AM MAGAZINE SHELL - Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine

REGULAR DEPARTMENTS
AAAA Report ...................................4
Calendar and Members .....................5
News ..............................................6
Products .......................................16
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
MEMBER FEATURE
HR Matters....................................90
PRTC ............................................91
4WD .............................................92
Retail............................................94
Australian Aftermarket Export Mission to Middle East........................................6
Hella Australia to supply Proton Cars Malaysia..................................................7
ACS leading the way in green manufacturing ....................................................9
2012 International Engine of the Year Awards ................................................10
Carsales launches Carfacts ...........................................................................11
CouplerTec continues international growth .....................................................11
SAE appoints new Executive Director.............................................................12
I-Car announces new Chairman .....................................................................13
RSP defies manufacturing cynics ..................................................................15
Skilltech Australia’s apprentices win awards...................................................15
51
82
Cover Feature - Monroe launches smartphone technology...............................................58
Member Feature - Kmart Tyre & Auto Services – Over 40 years and still going strong ........60
FEATURES
The latest in the auto chemicals sector ..........................................................50
Technical Column – maximising traction ........................................................56
Everything you need to know about steering and suspension ...........................62
Making money from exhaust systems .............................................................84
Finance Feature – improving profits and cashflow ...........................................89
87
ABOUT THE COVER
Advanced technology isn’t confined to Monroe’s
range of market leading shock absorbers, as the
Aurasma enabled interactive advertising for
Monroe’s Gas Magnum TDT clearly shows.
See page 58 for more details
89
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Contribution: Freelance contribution and submissions are welcomed by this magazine. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and
transparencies. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the AAAA. All statements made, although based on information believed to be reliable
and accurate, cannot be guaranteed and no fault or liability can be accepted for error or omission. The publisher reserves the right to omit or alter any advertisement
and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher for all damages or liabilities arising from the published material.

AAAA REPORT
JUNE 2012
David Fraser
President
Australian Auto Aftermarket and Collision Repair Expo
back in Sydney in 2013
I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on
preparations for the 2013 Australian Auto
Aftermarket and Collision Repair Expo, which will be
held at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling
Harbour from April 11-13, 2013.
The Expo is the single largest event of its kind in
Australia featuring the very latest in automotive parts,
accessories, workshop tools and equipment.
Attracting over 400 exhibitors and 10,000
domestic and international trade visitors, the 2013
Expo will showcase a comprehensive range of
automotive aftermarket products from the industry’s
leading companies and brands.
The Auto Expo will be again run in conjunction
with the Collision Repair Expo, Australia’s only trade
event dedicated to the specialist needs of the
collision repair industry.
The Collision Repair Expo will feature the very
latest in paint products and applications, chemicals
and surface preparation products, collision repair
tools and equipment, replacement panels, parts and
frames, computer software and hardware, and
training and technology.
Held over nearly five acres of exhibition space,
the combined events will provide a window on the
world of tomorrow’s automotive aftermarket products.
Further information on the Expo, including
a floor plan and list of confirmed exhibitors,
can be downloaded from our websites,
www.aftermarketexpo.com.au and www.collisionrepair.com.au
Following the success of the 2011 Expo in
Melbourne, which smashed all exhibitor and visitor
records, space sales for the 2013 event have again
exceeded our expectations.
With 10 months until the show opens, over 75
percent of the available space has already been sold.
Confirmed exhibitors include most of the major
manufacturers, importers and resellers of automotive
parts and accessories, workshop tools and equipment
in Australia.
In addition, major manufacturers from USA,
Thailand, Taiwan and China will be featured on a
number of international pavilions.
With a complete sellout of the 20,000sqm of
available space likely, I would strongly suggest acting
quickly if you are planning to exhibit at the Expo and
haven’t yet secured your stand.
A comprehensive visitor marketing program
consisting of trade publication, TV and radio
advertising, public relations support, social media,
telemarketing, direct mail, fax and email reminders
will commence in October with the target of
Stuart Charity
Executive Director
AAAA
Suite 16, Building 3, 195 Wellington Road
Clayton Vic 3168
Ph: 03 9545 3333 Fax: 03 9545 3355
email: info@aaaa.com.au
www.aaaa.com.au
NSW Office
Box 693 Penrith BC
Penrith NSW 2751
Ph: 02 4731 5671 Fax: 02 4731 1171
Email: grahame@aaaa.com.au
Stuart Charity
Executive Director
execdir@aaaa.com.au
PRESIDENT Mr David Fraser (WA) – Capricorn Society
Ph: 08 6250 9500 Fax: 08 6250 9576
VICE PRESIDENT Mr Bob Pattison (VIC) – GUD Automotive Pty Ltd
Ph: 03 9243 3333 Fax: 03 9243 3366
SECRETARY Mr Greg Barker (VIC) – RSP Australia Pty Ltd
Ph: 03 9305 4000 Fax: 03 9305 3520
TREASURER Mr Peter Martin (VIC) – Hella Australia Pty Ltd
Ph: 03 9581 9333 Fax: 03 9584 1741
DIRECTORS
Mr Peter Hein (VIC) – NGK Spark Plug (Australia) Pty Ltd
Ph: 03 9730 4900 Fax: 03 9730 4990
Mr Mark Pedder (VIC) – Pedders Suspension
Ph: 03 9706 3500 Fax: 03 9706 3355
COMMITTEE
Mr Peter Armstrong (NSW) – IBS Auto Solutions Pty Ltd
Ph: 02 9892 4004 Fax: 02 9892 2897
Mr Nicholas Cooper (NSW) - Turbosmart Pty Limited
Ph: 02 9740 2866 Fax: 02 9798 2826
Mr Paul Dumbrell (VIC) – Automotive Brands
Ph: 03 8878 1111 Fax: 03 8878 2222
Mr Roger Lassen (SA) – Tenneco
Ph: 08 8374 5212 Fax: 08 8276 1653
Mr Andrew Schram (VIC) – Burson Automotive P/L
Ph: 03 9914 5555 Fax: 03 9914 5544
Mr Graham Scudamore-Smith (QLD) – Fulcrum Suspensions
Ph: 07 3892 9000 Fax: 07 3892 1526
4 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

AAAA
attracting over 10,000 trade visitors over the
three days.
Dedicated campaigns focusing on attracting
workshop owners from regional NSW, interstate
and New Zealand, combined with a range of
seminars, competitions, industry functions and
activities taking place in and around the show
will enhance the trade exhibition.
Expo exhibitor marketing briefings will be
held in Sydney and Melbourne in November and
will be designed to ensure that all exhibitors are
well prepared and able to leverage off this
coordinated and comprehensive promotional
program.
The Expo will once again provide the
opportunity to showcase AAAA member
companies to the wider industry by participation
AMPL Software Pty Ltd
3 Mcrae Place
TURRAMURRA NSW 2074
Ph: 02 9440 0269
AP Panel House
74 Harley Crescent
CONDELL PARK NSW 2200
Ph: 02 9791 0955 Fax: 02 9790 3237
Davis Performance
233 Annangrove Road
ANNANGROVE NSW 2156
Ph: 02 9679 1978 Fax: 02 9679 1993
Euro Car Parts
61 Miowera Road (corner Woodville Rd)
VILLAWOOD NSW 2163
Ph: 13 88 00 Fax: 02 9725 8693
Fry’s Spares
141 Alexander Street
CROWS NEST NSW 2065
Ph: 02 9438 4588 Fax: 02 9436 1425
NEW MEMBERS
in the AAAA Awards to Industry Program and via
a range of sponsorship opportunities.
Further information will be forwarded to
members over the coming months.
We will also have access to a range of
meeting rooms at the Sydney Exhibition Centre
during the Expo, so you may consider running
an event concurrently.
Rooms will be allocated on a first-in-firstserved
basis.
For further information on how to maximise your
Expo participation, contact Michelle Vizzutti in
the AAAA National Office on 03 9545 3333.
To book a stand at the Expo, contact our
Exhibition Director Tony Francis on
03 8672 1253.
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket magazine is the official publication of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA).
Published by
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association
ABN 23 002 271 454
Australian Automotive
Aftermarket Magazine
is a member of the
Circulations Audit Board.
KLS Power Group Pty Ltd
19/ 4A Bachell Avenue
LIDCOMBE NSW 2141
Ph: 02 9643 5111
Fax: 07 3272 9199
Lifestyle Logistics Services Pty Ltd
10 Eagle Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000
Ph: 07 3303 0303
Fax: 07 3303 8443
Micro Auto Filters Pty Ltd
Factory 2, 35 Access Way
CARRUM DOWNS VIC 3201
Ph: 03 9775 1979
Fax: 03 9775 1979
Nowra Spare Parts &
Engineering Supplies
1/173 Princes Hwy
NOWRA NSW 2541
Ph: 02 4421 3233
Fax: 02 4421 2632
Pirtek Fluid Systems Pty Ltd
3-7 Garling Rd
KINGS PARK NSW 2147
Ph: 02 8822 9000 Fax: 02 8822 9091
Royal Purple Oils Australia P/L
41/ 2 Richard Close
NORTH ROCKS NSW 2151
Ph: 02 9683 5078 Fax: 02 9683 5087
Solar Depot
PO Box 460
LONSDALE SA 5160
Ph: 08 8382 7555 Fax: 08 8326 1158
VMS
Unit 2, 84-90 Lakewood Boulevarde
BRAESIDE VIC 3195
Ph: 03 9017 5568 Fax: 03 9587 8040
Western Clutch Services P/L
9/ 130 Forrester Road
ST MARYS NSW 2760
Ph: 02 9623 1233 Fax: 02 9673 4539
Suite 16, Building 3, 195 Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
Phone: 03 9545 3333 Fax: 03 9545 3355 email: info@aaaa.com.au
NSW Office
Box 693 Penrith BC Penrith NSW 2751
Ph: 02 4731 5671 Fax: 02 4731 1171 Email: info@aaaa.com.au
CALENDAR
2012
Automechanika Frankfurt
Frankfurt, Germany
11 – 16 September 2012
www.automechanika.messefrankfurt.com
APRA BIG R show
Bally’s, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
27 – 29 October 2012
www.bigrshow.com
AAPEX Show
Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo
Sands Expo Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
30 October – 1 November, 2012
www.aapexshow.com
SEMA Show
Las Vegas Convention Center,
Nevada, USA
30 October – 2 November, 2012
www.semashow.com
Performance Racing Industry
Trade Show
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida, USA
29 November – 1 December 2012
www.performanceracing.com
Automechanika Shanghai
Shanghai New International Expo Center,
Pudong, Shanghai, China
11 – 14 December 2012
www.automechanika.messefrankfurt.com
2013
Automechanika Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
7 – 9 March 2013
www.automechanika.messefrankfurt.com
Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo
Sydney Exhibition Centre
Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia
11 – 13 April 2013
www.aftermarketexpo.com.au
PUBLISHER –
Stuart Charity,
Executive Director
Australian Automotive
Aftermarket Association
EDITORIAL –
Allan Edwards,
Pole Position Productions
Tel 61 3 9331 2608
ADVERTISING MANAGER –
Cameron McLachlan,
Australian Automotive
Aftermarket Association
Tel 61 3 9545 3333
PRODUCTION & DESIGN –
Brigid Fraser,
Possprint
Tel 61 3 9505 0121
Collision Repair Expo
Sydney Exhibition Centre
Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia
11 – 13 April 2013
www.collisionrepair.com.au
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 5

NEWS
AUSTRALIAN AFTERMARKET EXPORT
MISSION TO MIDDLE EAST
Rapid growth in the automotive aftermarket in Middle Eastern countries attracted 22 Australian businesses
seeking export opportunities at the 2012 Automechanika Middle East trade show, which was held from May 22 to 24,
2012 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
It was the largest Australian export mission
to participate in Automechanika Middle East,
the region’s biggest exhibition focused on the
automotive aftermarket.
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket
Association (AAAA), with support from the
Victorian Government, organised the delegation.
AAAA Senior Manager, Government Relations
and International, Ben Bartlett, said the
Australian delegation of manufacturers and
suppliers was evidence of the can-do attitude
and professionalism of today’s Australian
aftermarket industry.
“This sector of the Australian automotive
industry turns over $11 billion a year and
employs 30,000 plus people,” he said.
“The phenomenal point is that it also earns
$800 million in export dollars a year.
“The Middle East is a growing part of our
industry's export plan.”
Mr Bartlett said it was the AAAA’s 12th
consecutive year attending a Middle Eastern
aftermarket trade show, and the 10th
consecutive mission to this show.
“Australia punches above its weight here
with our companies featuring in a 200 square
metre Australian Pavilion located in Hall 5 at
the centre of the exhibition,” he said.
Companies which exhibited in the Australian
Pavilion were Airbag Man, Alloy Race
Components, Ateco Equipment, Automotive
Parts Australia, Black Widow, Camtech,
Couplertec Electronic Rust Proofing, Crow
Cams, Dobinsons Springs & Suspension, Mackay
Consolidated Industries, Mainline Dynolog
Dynamometers, Penrite Oil, Powerdown,
Precision Parts, Premier Auto Trade, The
Ultimate Suspension and TJM Products.
The AAAA and the Victorian Government also
had information booths in the Australian
Pavilion.
Other companies also visited the market to
evaluate export opportunities with the prospect
of exhibiting in future years.
The AAAA believes this is an important first
step in any company’s export market entry
strategy.
Dubai - Middle East market hub
All companies who participated in the 2011
AAAA delegation to Automechanika Middle East
expected increased business and 47 percent
received orders at the exhibition with 53 percent
gaining 10 or more sales leads.
The 2011 Automechanika Middle East trade
show attracted 17,000 visitors to see 1100
exhibits.
This exhibition showcases automotive
components, accessories, garage equipment, as
well as refuelling and car washing equipment
and machinery.
Dubai has become an important trade hub
for the automotive industry in the Middle East.
It is now significant in serving the needs of
fast growing markets throughout the Middle
East, Central Asia, North and East Africa.
Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq are main reexport
destinations, underlying Dubai’s
prominence as a logistics hub and gateway to
difficult to reach markets.
According to Ms Nassim Saeed Al Mehairi, a
Senior Manager in the Statistics Section,
Strategy and Corporate Excellence Department
at Dubai Customs, the industry’s imports,
exports and re-exports from Dubai in 2010 was
AUD$ 2536 million.
APV BACK IN BUSINESS
Participants in the Australian Automotive Aftermarket
Association pavilion at the 2011 Automechanika Middle
East trade show achieved excellent results with orders and
sales leads taken at the event.
That has grown to AUD$2355 in the first
quarter of 2011.
A large part of this growth is attributed to
expansion in vehicle ownership, the
prevalence of a large number of vehicles in the
region that need maintenance and upgrading,
and the growing realisation of the benefits of
regular servicing and replacement of parts and
accessories in terms of reduced costs and
increased efficiencies.
Mr Bartlett said that following the
Automechanika Middle East trade show, some
companies in the AAAA delegation travelled
on to investigate export opportunities in
Turkey.
“The Victorian Government recognises the
value in supporting these missions,” he said.
“This assistance makes it possible for
small and medium size Australian businesses
to compete in international markets.”
APV Automotive Components resumes production at its Coburg facility on Monday, April 23, despite the company
going into receivership on April 10.
“The receivers are pleased to announce that
APV Automotive Components Pty Ltd recommenced
operations at its Coburg facility this
morning,” PPB Advisory partner, Stephen
Longley, said.
“The company is back in business after an
urgent restructuring over the last two weeks which
involved a combination of obtaining guaranteed
order volumes and short-term prices rises from
vehicle manufacturers Holden, Ford and Toyota
and a successful voluntary redundancy process.
“This outcome has been achieved after
extensive discussions and consultation with the
company’s key stakeholders including the vehicle
manufacturers, employees, the AMWU and
suppliers.”
The receivers asked 92 employees to return
to work on April 23 while 34 staff members were
made redundant after the voluntary redundancy
process was conducted in conjunction with shop
stewards and the AMWU.
The receivers also met with the employees
whose voluntary redundancy requests were
accepted so they can complete the relevant forms
to claim their entitlements from the Federal
Government’s General Employee Entitlement and
Redundancy Scheme.
6 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWS
HELLA AUSTRALIA
SUPPLIES OE TO
PROTON CARS MALAYSIA
Hella Australia brings some good news relating to Australian manufacturing
with the announcement that the company has entered into an Original
Equipment supplier agreement with Proton Cars, Malaysia.
Employing more than 350 Victorians at
Hella’s manufacturing plant in Mentone, this
agreement is the result of the professionalism
and determination of Hella’s workforce and
management team to rise above significant
global competition.
It well and truly places Australia as a key
automotive component manufacturing partner
with one of the world’s best known and fastest
growing vehicle marques.
Hella has decades of experience in
supplying all three Australian car
manufacturers, Toyota, Ford and Holden (and
their predecessors), with premium quality
Original Equipment headlights, rear lamps and
many other application specific automotive
lighting products.
The company has made major investments
to its Australian manufacturing capabilities to
ensure its long-term viability and success
within the Pacific region and beyond.
Victoria’s Minister for Manufacturing,
Exports and Trade, Richard Della-Riva,
announced the Hella/Proton agreement at the
Australian Formula One Grand Prix on
Saturday, March 17.
“This is a very exciting endorsement of
Victorian manufacturing expertise and it
represents a strong vote of confidence from a
global car manufacturer in Hella Australia’s
Victorian Minister for Employment and Industrial
Relations, Richard Della-Riva, addresses the press
conference that announced Hella Australia’s Original
Equipment supply deal with Proton Cars, Malaysia.
Victorian Minister for Employment and Industrial
Relations, Richard Della-Riva (right) and Hella Australia,
CEO Olavi Rantala, at the announcement of Hella
Australia’s Original Equipment supply deal with Proton
Cars Malaysia.
manufacturing quality and competitiveness,”
he said.
“The company has ensured a strong future
by continually seeking export opportunities
across South East Asian automotive
manufacturers, over and beyond its reliance
on local vehicle manufacturing.”
Hella Australia CEO, Olavi Rantala, noted
that Hella Australia continues to grow,
diversify and expand its research, design and
manufacturing reach.
“Hella Australia is meeting these
challenges head-on to ensure our continued
success as a proud Australian manufacturer,”
he said.
“This is definitely the result of our hard
working staff who are as committed as the
company management is to ensuring our longterm
success and viability as an Australian
manufacturer.”
On a global basis, Hella employs 25,000
people with 3800 working in research and
development. The German privately owned
company, which was founded in 1899,
operates in more than 100 countries. Hella
Australia is one of the company’s Global
Centres of Excellence for design and
manufacturing.
NRMA
INSURANCE
UNVEILS A
ONE-OF-A-KIND
CONCEPT CAR
NRMA Insurance revealed a car unlike any
other in April, crafted using as many extras as
possible from various different car models to
create a fully functioning concept car.
Actor and car enthusiast Shane Jacobson
unveiled the car at Circular Quay’s Customs House
in Sydney.
He was also involved in test-driving the one of
a kind vehicle at a secret location before the
unveiling.
The car has been designed using different
sections from five completely different car models,
large and small.
In addition to this, it showcases as many extras
as possible to help highlight many of the different
extras other insurers may not automatically cover,
like metallic and pearl paints, rust proofing, DVD
players, electric windows, leather seats, roof racks
and even paint protection.
With NRMA Comprehensive Car Insurance, all
of your car’s extras are automatically covered.
“In our experience many people find it hard to
tell which parts are extra or standard in their cars,
particularly if the car is pre-loved,” Consumer
Public Relations Manager, Mariana Cidade, said.
"We’ve simplified our cover so all extras are
covered, whether they are factory-fitted or aftermarket.
"This concept car is here to showcase that
NRMA Insurance automatically covers all the extras
you have on your car, whatever car you have.”
NRMA Insurance now wants you to help name
the car for the chance to win $10,000, which ends
June 29.
For more information visit
www.facebook.com/nrmainsurance
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 7

NEWS
AKZONOBEL OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES
WANDA IN AUSTRALIA
Simplicity, colour and value. These are the three core values that leading global coatings company AkzoNobel is promising
Australians with the launch of Wanda, its new value segment car refinish system.
After months of anticipation, Wanda is
finally available in Australia, featuring a market
leading compact colour matching system with
the reliability that AkzoNobel, which is
reputedly the largest coatings company in the
world, says it can provide.
Officially launched in late April at the
Waterview Convention Centre in Sydney, Barry
Edney, Head of Marketing and Strategic Sales
for AkzoNobel Automotive and Aerospace
Coatings, Asia Pacific, told the audience that
Wanda is a splash of colour in the often
monotone world of automotive refinish systems.
“With Wanda, we’ve taken all of our
knowledge and expertise from our other leading
global automotive refinish brands including
Sikkens and Lesonal, and developed a complete
value offering for those looking for our renowned
quality and reliability at a lower price point,” he
said.
“The Australian auto refinish market is very
segmented, and we saw that there was a great
opportunity to compete in the mid value
segment.
“We’re proud that our system is one of the
most compact on the market, requiring far less
shelving space and lower inventory.
“Wanda presents a simplified approach for
mixing ratios of clear, primer and 2K colour and
utilises a universal hardener.
“The total system consists of less than 85
SKUs, including basecoat and single stage
toners as well as ancillaries.”
One of Wanda’s greatest strengths is its
comprehensive colour matching system. Not all
paints are created equal, and many automotive
aftermarket refinish manufacturers struggle to
keep up to date with colour variances over time.
“Wanda’s colour matching system is simply
unparalleled,” Mr Edney said.
“Wanda’s system features a wide range of
up-to-date prime and variant colours, easy-touse
comprehensive colour documentation
tools and an easy-to-use colour retrieval
program; WandaColor.
“With our global R&D
support, extensive database,
and comprehensive
documentation, we’re able to
deliver unmatched quality
and accuracy in colour
matching.”
WandaColor allows users
to obtain accurate, up-to-date formulas and
information for colour matching.
The WandaColor program is available for
owners of the Wanda refinish system, with
periodic colour updates issued throughout the
year, ensuring that spray painters always have
up-to-date tools on hand to help them do their
job to the highest standards.
Wanda has been a growing global brand for
more than 78 years, offering durable, simple to
use products since being founded in Brazil in
1934 by Roque Montesano, who named the
brand after his daughter Wanda, who was born
that year.
AkzoNobel acquired Wanda in 1974 and is
now distributed throughout Australia, North
America, Canada, South and Latin America, the
Caribbean and Indonesia.
Wanda has already made an appearance as
the official paint supplier for the Australian V8
Ute Racing Series, with a Wanda branded ute
racing in the first two rounds of the 2012 series
- the Adelaide Clipsal 500 and Symmons Plains
Tasmanian Challenge.
Wanda will be available from a number of
distributors throughout Australia’s eastern
seaboard.
To register your interest to become a
distributor, visit www.wandarefinish.com.au
or call 03 9644 1711.
8 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWS
AUSTRALIAN CLUTCH SERVICES LEADING
THE WAY IN GREEN MANUFACTURING
Australian Clutch Services of Wingfield, South Australia
has progressively reduced its carbon footprint via various
green initiatives.
Working towards being a carbon-neutral company has been an
important component of the long-term business strategy at Australian
Clutch Services (ACS).
Some time ago ACS invested in a cardboard compacting machine,
enabling the company to more efficiently recycle cardboard waste into a
saleable commodity.
This recycling initiative is one of many at ACS including a large scale
metal recycling program and wood (pallet) recycling activities.
The most recent and largest reduction in carbon footprint was
achieved through a commercial scale solar power system.
Adelaide Company Solar Depot recently installed a 30kw commercial
grade solar power system on the roof at Australian Clutch Services.
The system delivers nearly 80 percent of the company’s power needs
during the working week.
Unused power that is generated on the weekend is sold back into the
grid further reducing the gap and almost eliminating the company's power
bills.
With plans to implement minor power use changes such as LED
floodlighting and the like, ACS looks like achieving total selfsustainability
in regards to electricity production and usage in the shortterm.
The green initiative demonstrates the constant momentum by ACS in
regards to leadership within the clutch industry.
“In today’s automotive environment, larger corporates (retail chains)
are looking to see what their suppliers are doing to move with the times
in every respect, not just supplying product but how they operate their
business,” ACS Managing Director, Brenton Jordan, said.
“We have been very efficiency focused of late, with our ISO
accreditation and so forth. This has flowed through every facet of our
business including our energy usage.”
For more information on ACS visit www.australianclutch.com.au
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 9

NEWS
HELLA PHILIPPINES NOW UNDER THE
MANAGEMENT CONTROL OF HELLA
AUSTRALIA
Hella Philippines, a highly successful manufacturer and marketer of both original equipment and
aftermarket automotive lighting and electronic products, is now under the executive management of
Hella Australia Chief Executive Officer Olavi Rantala.
This change in the senior management
structure for the Philippines-based Hella
operation enables the company to gain more
opportunities for domestic and international
growth throughout Asia Pacific, with the addition
of product development and technical resources
with Hella Australia.
“While Hella Philippines has been
successful for more than three decades, from a
technological point of view this change will
enable the levels of investment and development
required to support future growth,” Mr Rantala
said.
“This is where bringing the company into the
Hella Australia management structure makes
good business sense.
“We have excellent long-term original
equipment and aftermarket customers in the
Philippines region and we will be looking to
expand our customer reach in the region with
the support of the technical and marketing
expertise that exists within Hella Australia.”
Established in 1978 as an original
equipment supplier to the Ford Motor Company
in the Philippines, the company grew
substantially when Hella Philippines entered the
two-wheeler (motorcycle) market in 1988.
Since then, the company has weathered the
East Asian Crisis strongly to become one of the
region’s top performers in the aftermarket,
original equipment and special original
equipment sectors.
Featuring ISO 9001, EMS 14001 and
ISO/TS 16949 certified manufacturing facilities
and having received awards for excellence from
original equipment partners Honda and
Mitsubishi in both 2008 and 2010, Hella
Philippines has been a strong performer in the
region to date.
The company’s main manufacturing skill sets
can be found in precision injection moulding,
painting, metalising, metal forming and
ultrasonic welding as well as low cost assembly
opportunities.
This HELLA Philippines management restructure
also represents a major vote of
confidence in the future of the region’s
automotive industry by parent company Hella
Hella Australia Chief Executive Officer, Olavi Rantala,
at the company’s Melbourne-based Australian
manufacturing plant.
KG, which is a globally positioned, independent
family-owned company that employs 25,000
people based in more than 100 countries.
2012 INTERNATIONAL ENGINE OF
THE YEAR AWARDS
With each passing year, the fight for honours in the International Engine of the Year Awards gets ever more competitive.
The judging panel has assessed 39 all-new
engines in 2012 alongside the best of the
established powertrains already in the market.
In another year of diverse competition, new
engines on the shortlist include mighty petrol
engines such as McLaren’s downsized V8 and
BMW’s turbocharged ‘M’ power V8 unit, to the
diminutive three-cylinder engine from Ford and
the all-electric engines of the Nissan Leaf and
Renault Fluence.
Dean Slavnich, editor of Engine Technology
International and co-chairman of the
International Engine of the Year Awards, said
as always, the judging panel assessed every
new engine to the market in the past 12
months.
“And we firmly believe that this year’s
judging has been the toughest ever,” he said.
“Last year, Fiat’s fabulous little TwinAir
scooped four awards, so it will be interesting
to see if it can still impress as much in the face
of some seriously talented opposition.”
With fuel prices across the globe riding high
in the news agenda, the small, green and
electric powertrains have never been more
important to the international automotive
market.
The burgeoning ‘Green’ category this year
will see last year’s winning Fiat 875cc twocylinder
turbo take on GM’s excellent 1.4-litre
range - the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera -
while Ford’s much-admired 999cc, threecylinder
turbo engine is also a top contender
for the category.
The ‘Performance’ engine award always gets
a lot of attention, and with Ferrari’s stunning
Ferrari 4.5-litre V8 taking on new units such
as McLaren’s 3.8-litre V8 from the MP4-12C
supercar and BMW’s 4.4-litre TwinTurbo V8
that powers the magnificent M5 and M6,
competition in this class has never been hotter.
Of the all-new engines to the market in
2011, Mazda’s impressive 2.2-litre, ‘skyactive’
diesel engine will be hoping that it can take
the overall crown, but with the likes of
McLaren, BMW, Ford and GM all vying for
position, the final awards results will certainly
be closely watched by the industry.
The 14th International Engine of the Year
Award will be announced at a ceremony at
Engine Expo 2012 in Stuttgart, Germany on
June 13.
The event, one of the annual highlights of
the automotive industry calendar, will see a
total of 12 awards given to those
manufacturers who have been judged to have
achieved excellence in powertrain engineering.
10 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWS
CARSALES.COM
LAUNCHES
ALL-NEW CARFACTS
Carsales.com has launched an all-new vehicle status and
history service that promises to provide an added level of
security to used vehicle transactions.
Launched in conjunction with
the Federal Government’s new
Personal Property Securities
Register (PPSR), CarFacts provides
users a single point where they may
establish the bona fides of a car
they are purchasing.
Via CarFacts, purchasers can
check their chosen vehicle against
national encumbrances and stolen
and written off vehicle registers.
And, uniquely, as well as
performing an odometer and
specification check, they can also
determine whether a vehicle being
sold privately has been listed to sell
before on carsales’ network of
websites.
Users can access the CarFacts
service via the classified pages of
carsales.com.au
and
CarPoint.com.au where a CarFacts
link is included with all used cars
listed for sale with a vehicle
identification number (VIN).
A standalone CarFacts website
has also been launched at
www.carfacts.com.au
Carsales.com CEO Greg
Roebuck said CarFacts was an
important new service for buyers
and sellers alike.
“CarFacts delivers a suite of
information and important
functionality to the general public –
both buyers and sellers,” he said.
“Buyers can use CarFacts to
ensure the car they are buying is
free of any financial encumbrances
such as unpaid hire purchase
agreements.
“Additionally, they can also
research the history of the car.”
Mr Roebuck said it is a great
tool for buyers to help ensure they
are getting exactly what they are
paying for.
“Sellers can use CarFacts to
help differentiate their car from
similar offers in the marketplace,”
he said.
“Better outcomes go hand-inhand
with buyers that can negotiate
with confidence.”
Unlike other car history services,
CarFacts utilises both publically
available and carsales.com network
data to provide vehicle-specific
information to support the integrity
of vehicle transactions.
Carsales claims its network of
websites is Australia’s largest
automotive sales resource.
A CarFacts report costs
consumers only $25.
It includes a PPSR certificate
which may provide security to the
consumer under the Personal
Property Securities Act.
Currently, all private sellers
advertising on a carsales.com
website receive a CarFacts report
free of charge when creating their
ad, provided they supply a VIN.
“As car buyers and sellers have
become more sophisticated,
carsales.com Ltd has focused on
developing tools that support our
customers in achieving best
possible outcomes,” Mr Roebuck
said.
“CarFacts is just such a
product.”
The Personal Property Securities
Act 2009 is intended to protect
buyers of personal property where
they are not aware of an existing
security interest.
This effectively extinguishes the
security interest at the time of the
transaction, and the buyer has good
title to the property without any
encumbrances.
It also reflects existing
protections for buyers under the
Competition and Consumer Act
2010 and the State and Territory
sale of goods legislation.
Some rights under the Personal
Property Securities Act are subject
to exceptions and restrictions.
For more information visit
www.ppsr.gov.au
MORE SIGN UP TO
PROTECT MOTOR
VEHICLES FROM
RUST AND
CORROSION
The Australian manufacturer of the internationally patented
CouplerTec electronic rust proofing systems continues on its
impressive international distribution program with the signing
of a new agreement in the Philippines.
The agreement between the Queensland-based manufacturer and
Manila based distribution company Iron Man is another international
distributor selling this highly respected Australian made product
range.
In addition to the new distribution agreement in the Philippines,
CouplerTec has also signed new distribution agreements with the 4WD
Equipment Association for the distribution of CouplerTec systems in
Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore.
CouplerTec is acknowledged as a world-leader in electronic rust
proofing technology with the patent on its capacitive coupling
technology also being granted in the United States of America.
Sales of CouplerTec systems in Canada and the United States have
been on a steady incline in recent years and the latest growth sector
is the larger heavy duty commercial systems specifically designed to
protect trucks, heavy machinery and earthmoving equipment.
“The mining industry in Australia has been a market that we have
been selling to for a number of years,” CouplerTec General Manager,
Grant Taylor, said.
“We have sold and fitted systems to 4WD vehicles however this is
now leading to CouplerTec also protecting larger heavy earth moving
trucks and machinery on mine sites.”
More than 500,000 CouplerTec systems have been sold.
The Automobile Association of America (AAA) department of
statistics states that more cars are destroyed by rust than by
accidents.
CouplerTec Joint Managing Director, Garry Bell, said the company
was immensely proud to be kicking goals throughout the world.
“In May we again attended the Automechanika in Dubai and
hopefully there will be some more good news to report very soon about
new agreements in some more European countries.” he said.
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 11

NEWS
HOT STAFF
Redranger pumps up
its sales team
Redranger has announced two new
additions to its management and sales team
with the appointment of Daniel Dunn, who
took on the role as National Sales Manager,
and John Lynch as Southern NSW Product
Support Representative.
Mr Dunn joins the team with extensive
sales and marketing management
experience having held a similar role most
recently at NGK Spark Plugs which also
included KYB Shock Absorbers.
Based in Melbourne, Mr Dunn assumed responsibility for all Australian
and New Zealand sales activities and reports directly to Redranger’s Sales
Director Steve Broad.
Mr Lynch, who for many years was the manager of Redranger’s Customer
Service Team, will now be on the road to support distributor, reseller and
trade customers in Southern Sydney and NSW as well as the ACT.
These new team members are both seen as a great fit within Redranger
and bring with them highly regarded level of professionalism, passion and
customer relationship/ business development skill sets.
Redranger believes they will bolster the category and company growth
experienced in recent years.
Dometic Australia
appoints new MD
After nearly 10 years in Australia, first
with WAECO Pacific and more recently
Dometic Australia, Andreas Bischof has
moved on from his position as Managing
Director.
Mr Bischof moved into a different role
within the Dometic Group, working with the
Asia Pacific team to help realise the
potential for their business in that region.
On December 5, 2011 Seamus Power
was the appointed Managing Director for
Australia, based in the Clayton, Victoria facility.
After commencing his career with a Production Engineering degree, Mr
Power spent the vast majority of his career in Operations, Sales and
Marketing in Ireland, UK, Germany, Japan and Australia, in government
relations and automotive and manufacturing sectors as well as within the
professional services environment.
After an eventful couple of years for the (former) WAECO and now
combined Dometic Australia operation, Mr Power inherited an organisation
in good shape which is well placed to further cement its position as an
industry leader and preferred supplier of what the company claims is the
most extensive product range offering into the OE and aftermarket sectors
of the mobile leisure industry.
To find your nearest Dometic-WAECO retailer or to find out more about
the extensive range of Dometic-WAECO products to suit your onboard
and outdoor needs, including portable refrigeration, onboard comfort
products, kitchen solutions and electronic accessories, visit
www.dometic-waeco.com.au or free call 1800 212 121.
SAE-A APPOINTS
NEW EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
The Society of Automotive Engineers - Australasia
(SAE-A) has appointed 20-year automotive industry
veteran Geoff Pearson as Executive Director.
Founded in 1927, and
affiliated with SAE
International, the society
promotes excellence in
automotive engineering
through professional
development, education,
conferences and
networking activities.
SAE-A President Bill
Malkoutzis acknowledged
the contribution of previous
Executive Director Max
Chanter, who is retiring.
Bill Malkoutzis said an
exhaustive search secured
a leader who will bring
innovative ideas and
diverse industry experience
to the role.
“Geoff has been active in
Geoff Pearson, Executive Director of the Society
of Automotive Engineers - Australasia.
SAE-A programs for many years, particularly the international Formula
SAE-Australasia education competition for engineering students hosted
by the society at the end of every year,” he said.
“Geoff’s close links with the universities, their engineering students
and the companies that employ them, will bring a fresh and vibrant
approach to the Society’s programs.”
Geoff Pearson’s first experiences with the automotive world were part
of life on his father’s farm where he spent many hours tinkering in the
machinery shed.
His early working years were in the motorcycle industry before moving
into engineering for vehicle manufacturing.
His studies then led him into academia, where he lectured and
became a Formula SAE-A faculty advisor.
“SAE-A has a wonderfully diverse membership spanning the full
spectrum of automotive engineering,” Mr Pearson said.
“We have experts in engine development, chassis design,
aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, mechanical and body repair, crash
investigation, insurance assessment - the list seems endless.
“While senior members bring wisdom and many years engineering
experience to the table, our young members share enthusiasm to learn
and fluency in today's communication technologies.”
Mr Pearson said the national office’s goal will be to continue to create
learning opportunities for members.
“In this challenging global automotive market, we will support those
members dedicated to sustaining a viable automotive manufacturing
industry in Australia,” he said.
“And we will continue to service members committed to repairing
and maintaining the nation's vehicle fleet.
“As long as we engineer things, as long as we have a desire to learn,
and as long as we have passion for things automotive, there will be a
place for SAE-A.”
12 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWS
TRADINGPOST TIPS: HOW TO
INCREASE YOUR ADVERTISING REACH
BY LISTING ONLINE
You may have heard sales people say ‘don’t advertise with them, advertise with us instead’, when the truth of the matter
is the broader your advertising footprint, the greater your chance of success.
Trends overseas are revealing.
The top 30 percent of US vehicle dealers
by sales volume all list on three or more sites.
You may think that just means you'll pay
more and your advertising will eat into your
profit, but this isn’t necessarily true if done
right.
We all know that competitive pricing, quality
photos and a detailed description help draw
customers to view products for online sales.
However, buyers need to find your products
first, so how do you make it easier for them
while making sure your ads show up in more
searches, more often
Matching the wording of your ad to the way
people search is the best way to ensure your
ads appear in more and more user searches.
No matter what you’re selling, including
obvious terms like make, model and condition
is paramount, but where you’re selling
something with specific features, be sure to
call these out in your description.
Correct spelling is critical, as is the
language you use to describe your item.
The best way to select your keywords is to
think about what your customers are looking
for.
Think about what they ask for when they
come into your store or dealership and use this
as a guide.
This is particularly true if you’re selling
used parts, as Mike Third from Total Auto
Recyclers indicated.
“Used parts is a unique space, there’s only
ever one of anything and it’s an inherently
difficult space to operate in,” Mr Third said.
“By adding as much detail to my ad
descriptions and taking as many photos as
possible I have a better chance of selling the
item without too much trouble.
“It’s how I best create consumer
confidence.”
Wheels, tyres, parts and accessories are
hugely popular items on Tradingpost.
Last month there were 730,000 searches
made looking for these items.
The top 10 searches by manufacturer were
Ford, Holden, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, BMW,
Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda and Mercedes.
I-CAR ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD CHAIRMAN
IN CORPORATE RESTRUCTURE
I-CAR Australia CEO, Richard Pratt, has announced that Mark Brady from Brady’s Body Works in Brisbane has been
elected as Chairman of I-CAR at the recent AGM and Board meeting held at its Brisbane head office.
“The by-laws under which I-CAR operates
limits any one person’s tenure as Chairman to
just two terms,” Mr Pratt said.
“Mr Brady succeeds Adelaide’s John Zulian
in the role of Chairman, and has been Vice
Chairman and Treasurer for the last six years.
“Mr Zulian now assumes the role of
Immediate Past Chairman and has also been
elected to the role of Treasurer.
“In a show of support, the Board decided to
retain the expertise of the incumbent
management team who had overseen the
significant growth from inception and to
reinforce the direction the organisation was
taking.”
Mr David Newton-Ross was also elected
unanimously as an Officer of the Board.
ACE SELECTS FROUDE HOFMANN
At the hub of Australia’s automotive industry, the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE), part of the prestigious Kangan
Institute training organisation, is set to become the Southern Hemisphere’s largest and most advanced automotive testing
Thanks to an investment of more than $20
million, the new centre in Docklands, Melbourne
has been equipped with the latest testing
technology from international equipment
manufacturer, Froude Hofmann.
With expertise in the engine testing industry
dating back to the late 19th Century, Froude
Hofmann was the supplier of choice to ensure that
the ACE facility could cater to the varied demands
of the industry for engine and vehicle testing.
Installed in the state-of-the-art facility are four
of Froude Hofmann’s world-renowned
and training facility.
dynamometers and associated control and data
acquisition systems.
As well as the standard AG500 dynamometer
for testing engines from passenger cars and light
commercial vehicles, dynamometers are also
installed for testing heavy trucks, lorries and
coaches, all-wheel drive vehicles and motorcycles.
The company has also supplied an automated
brake tester and a complete emissions integration
and test automation package.
The latter is an essential requirement to test
vehicles under accurately simulated road
conditions, within a controlled environment, with
the ability to accurately measure emissions and
fuel economy from the various test cells.
“We are proud that Froude Hofmann has been
recognised by such a prestigious organisation,”
Froude Hofmann Group Chairman, John Harris,
said.
“It is a credit to the Kangan Institute and ACE
that they are providing such a comprehensive
testing and training facility for automotive
engineers and technicians in the industry and we
are delighted to be supporting them.”
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 13

NEWS
OXYGEN SENSOR
SPECIALIST
LAUNCHES NEW
WEBSITE
Engine Sensors (Aust) has announced the
launch of o2sensors.com.au
O2sensors.com.au is an Australian owned and
operated online specialist oxygen sensor outlet
offering a huge range of O2 sensors for vehicles
available in Australia and New Zealand.
In addition to over 600 oxygen sensors, one of
the largest ranges available, o2sensors.com.au also
supplies many tools and accessories such as sensor
fitting sockets, bungs and testers.
Almost all of o2sensors.com.au sensors are
direct fit, so they are easy to install with made to
measure cable lengths and original connector plugs,
so no wire joining or splicing is required.
The o2sensors.com.au web site search contains
more than 3000 vehicle application listings, so the
company almost always have the sensors you need,
and if not it will try and hunt them down for you.
The website also features an Original Equipment
search facility which includes thousands of OE
number cross references, so you can find the
suitable replacement sensor based on the original
part number.
O2sensors.com.au supplies leading brand
sensors including Walker Products, Bosch, Delphi,
VDO, Denso, and NTK, all with OE form, fit and
function that meets or exceeds all original
equipment specifications.
In many cases the actual OE product is supplied.
O2sensors.com.au offers quality products and
quality brands, savings of up to 50 percent off retail
prices, one of the largest ranges available for
vehicles in Australia and New Zealand, an extended
15 month (25,000km) product warranty, exceeding
industry standard, and same day despatch on orders
confirmed before midday (Australian Eastern Time).
WHY BUSINESSES SAY ‘NO’
TO FREE PUBLICITY WORTH
THOUSANDS
You make a great product or you offer a service that’s potentially
a world beater.
The only problem is not many people
know about it. Then opportunity knocks.
A popular website, e-mag or glossy
magazine with a large national readership
that your product or service would appeal to
announces that it’s going to publish a multipage
‘buyer’s guide’ that’s focused on your
specialised area of the market.
All you have to do is provide a neat, tightly
written page of copy telling them all about
your product or service, known as a press or
news release, and a nice photo that shows
what you have to offer.
From there, the website or magazine
publisher will do the rest for you, including
sub-editing, designing and distributing your
free piece of publicity to newsagents across
Australia - and beyond if on a website - and
straight into the hands of thousands of
potential customers.
Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn’t it
But you’d be amazed at how many of
these golden opportunities are missed each
year, purely because businesses are not
armed with the two basic tools needed to
exploit them – a press release and a product
image.
As a former editor of Street Machine and
Australian Muscle Car magazines, Mark
Oastler speaks from years of first-hand
experience in this process.
“I lost count of the number of times these
free opportunities to boost exposure (and
profits) were not exploited by Aussie
businesses,” Mr Oastler said.
“Not because they didn’t want to - it was
just that they couldn’t.
“‘Mate, I’m so busy I just don’t have the
time to put something like that together’ or
‘I’ve never been much good at writing stuff’
were the most common excuses I heard.”
If this sounds familiar then you’re missing
out on the most cost-effective sales and
marketing tool every business has at its
disposal – the power of free media.
A well-rounded marketing strategy for any
business can include advertising in both
traditional print and internet, a website and
effective social media.
However, the ability to produce and
distribute press releases about your product
or service is just as crucial in this marketing
mix for compelling reasons.
Popular media outlets such as
newspapers, magazines and websites are in
constant need of fresh editorial content to fill
their pages, so if you’ve got a tightly-written
press release containing accurate,
newsworthy information, there’s a very good
chance these outlets will publish it – for free.
If you include a quality image of your
product or service that really stands out and
catches the reader’s eye and makes their
publication look nice too, the chances of your
press release getting a run are even greater.
Most printed and online publications also
feature a ‘new products’ page or two in each
issue, which are also highly effective
showcases and they’re also free (check out
this issue of the magazine for some good
examples).
If your product and story is interesting
enough, you may even find that one or more
of these publications want to do a feature
story on your business.
In publicity terms, that’s pure gold and
again, it’s all for free.
So, with one press release and one photo,
a business can potentially get national and
even international exposure of immeasurable
value in numerous publications, that don’t
charge you a cent for it.
“Honestly, any business person that can
say ‘I just don’t have the time’ to take
advantage of so many free promotional
opportunities being handed to them on a
plate really should be giving serious thought
to making the time or if not, finding someone
to do it for them,” Mr Oastler said.
That’s what copywriters are for.
And if you find a good one, with a
thorough knowledge of automotive and
industrial subjects who can translate your
product message into ‘language’ that appeals
to publishers and readers (some can also
arrange photography and press release
distribution if required), they could be the key
to unlocking your free publicity potential.
For a free audit of your current media
strategy, even if you don’t have one, and
to discover how quality copywriting and
the power of free media could take your
business to a new level, contact Mark
Oastler on 0402 849 263 or visit
www.redlineworldmedia.com.au
14 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWS
MELBOURNE-BASED RSP DEFIES
MANUFACTURING CYNICS
Not all hope is lost in the local Australian automotive manufacturing industry.
One local automotive parts manufacturer,
the Melbourne-based RSP, is defying all odds
to record levels of growth over the past 15
months.
Car parts manufacturers in Australia are
being faced with challenging times as local
manufacturing costs rise with the value of the
Australian dollar, and motor vehicle
manufactures begin to look overseas for more
cost effective parts.
CMI Industrial, a manufacturer and
supplier of automotive components to the Ford
Motor Company Australia which recently went
into administration, and Victorian auto-parts
supplier APV Automotive Components, which
recently went into receivership, are among a
number of local automotive parts
manufactures being hit hard by the current
economic climate.
RSP, known for its flagship automotive
aftermarket restoration brand Rare Spares,
manufactures a number of parts within
Australia at its own facilities, and supply parts
to Holden, Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan,
Kenworth Trucks and International Trucks.
“We are very proud of our Australian
manufacturing facilities,” RSP Managing
Director, Les McVeigh, said.
“Through RSP, we directly and indirectly
create a significant number of jobs within
Australia, and that number is increasing.
“The growth of RSP over the past year has
been incredible.
“We just recorded our best month in the
history of the company in April, and we are
confident about our future in Australia.
“We have been supplying OEM parts to
motor vehicle manufacturers for over 20 years,
alongside Rare Spares; our primary
aftermarket restoration side of the business.”
RSP began life more than 36 years ago
when Mr McVeigh turned a hobby for cars into
a multimillion dollar business with a
distributor network across Australia and
manufacturing facilities in Melbourne.
Now all five Directors of RSP, a tight knit
group whose close friendship has survived the
rapid expansion of the business, are defying
all odds to continue the evolution and growth
of RSP and Rare Spares within Australia.
“Unfortunately, Australia does not currently
have a strong future in manufacturing in any
industry,” Mr McVeigh said.
“Many Australian manufacturers just can’t
compete with lower costs from overseas
manufacturers.
“The increased costs of local
manufacturing have made it very difficult for
Australian manufactures to stay competitive.
“The unfortunate fact is that it’s far
cheaper for many companies to move
manufacturing offshore.”
Mr McVeigh contributes the growth of RSP
to a consistent flow and innovation of new
products, supplying quality parts, maintaining
leadership in the aftermarket restoration
market and developing close relationships with
motor vehicle manufacturers including Ford,
Holden, Mazda and Nissan.
Australian Automotive Aftermarket
Association Executive Director, Stuart Charity,
said RSP was an important manufacturer of
automotive parts in Australia.
“While the Australian media have been
predicting the death of automotive
manufacturing in Australia, RSP, together with
the wider independent aftermarket, are
proving that our industry is still capable of
manufacturing locally made high quality parts,
and there is a strong potential for growth,” he
said.
RSP is a holder of ISO9001 Quality
Management System certification and supplies
a number of OEM parts to motor vehicle
manufacturers including oil, air and fuel
filters, door handles, suspension bushes,
pedal pads, lamps and lamp lenses, cables
and body panels.
RSP, through Rare Spares, sells and
distributes an array of spare parts, accessories
and restoration parts for old and new model
cars.
SKILLSTECH AUSTRALIA
APPRENTICES WIN AWARDS
SkillsTech Australia has added to its trophy case with institute-trained apprentices taking out a multitude of awards at
recent award ceremonies around Brisbane.
SkillsTech Australia Institute Director, Mary
Campbell, congratulated apprentices who won
awards at industry and community-based awards
ceremonies earlier this month.
“Four of our apprentices received awards
from a possible nine award categories at the
MIGAS Queensland State Awards Night,” Ms
Campbell said.
“These awards are recognition of their hard
work and dedication and also highlight the
benefits of vocational training to industry in our
community.
“The categories in which our apprentices
received awards were Mitchell Van Zyl in diesel
fitting, Shannon Briggs in fitting and turning,
Mark Harris for boilermaking and Jack
Rossington for refrigeration and air-conditioning.
“Refrigeration and air-conditioning
apprentice Jack Rossington was named Overall
Apprentice of the Year; this is a great
achievement for both Jack and the institute.”
Ms Campbell said it was also wonderful news
that one of the locksmithing apprentices, David
Newton, was named as this year’s recipient of
the Ivan Holm Award at Hamilton Rotary Club.
“David is a hearing-impaired student who
recently undertook a Certificate II in Engineering
at our Eagle Farm Training Centre with support
from Australian Sign Language interpreters,” she
said.
“David decided he wanted a career change
from welding to become a locksmithing
apprentice.
“He continues to be supported whilst
undertaking further training towards a Certificate
III in Engineering at SkillsTech Australia and
working at KGB Locksmiths.
“It’s important to recognise David’s inspiring
story which proves that nothing is impossible
with the right training and attitude.”
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 15

PRODUCTS
New Gates Timing Component
Kit part numbering system
In an important move to simply the identification process
for timing system components, Gates Australia has changed
the existing part numbering system currently used for its
market leading Timing Component Kit (TCK) program.
The change makes the identification and ordering
process for TCKs significantly easier for all levels of the
distribution channel including for the technician, reseller
and wholesale distributor.
The new part numbering system is more useful in the
correct identification of kits for each application, as they
closely reflect the numbers for the Gates timing belts
included in each kit.
For example, the Gates kit part number VKMA91003S
has been changed to TCK199.
The timing belt in this kit is T199, so the numerical
digits from the timing belt number are reflected in the
new kit part number.
The new part numbering system assists in quickly
identifying components which are included in each kit.
The use of suffix characters indicate which addition
components are included.
For example, H stands for hydraulic tensioned, WP
stands for water pump, R is for Gates Racing Belt and SF
is for stretch fit.
In cases where timing belts are used in multiple
applications, and thus a multiple of kits, there will be a
suffix of A, B, or C proceeding the TCK number.
Some examples to help demonstrate the new
nomenclature:
• TCKWP311 = Timing Components Kit includes water
pump (timing belt T311)
• TCKSF1086 = Timing Component Kit includes stretch
fit belt, (timing belt T1086)
• TCKHR277 = Timing Component Kit includes
hydraulic tensioner and Gates Racing Belt (timing belt
T277R)
Gates is proud to be at the forefront of providing
products and solutions that are valued and that benefit
the company’s trade customers.
For more information, contact Gates Customer Service
on 03 9797 9688 or email southpacsales@gates.com
Latest and largest catalogue from
Premier Auto Trade
Premier Auto Trade has announced a
further update to its product catalogue
series with the upcoming release of
Catalogue 8, edition 2, the company’s
largest catalogue yet.
This new catalogue includes more
than 520 part numbers, with over
11,000 vehicle application listings,
making it one of the largest of its type
in the Australian aftermarket. The
catalogue features over 360 new part
numbers and over 7500 new
application listings over the previous
issue, covering petrol, LPG and diesel
vehicles.
This new catalogue features a huge
range of products including coolant
temperature sensors, air temperature
sensors, knock sensors, oil pressure
switches, relays, connector sets and other miscellaneous items.
Several new product lines have been added, including ABS modules, fuel
temperature sensors, engine control units (ECU), and speed sensors.
Premier Auto Trade has also launched a range of brake pad sensors which also
feature in this new catalogue.
Premier Auto Trade’s range of engine management and service components
specialises in genuine and original equipment products from the world’s leading
manufacturers including Bosch, Delphi, Pierburg, VDO, Standard Motor Products,
Walbro, Denso, FAE, Valeo, Hitachi, Bougicord, Bremi, Mitsubishi Electric, Walker
Products Turbosmart, Fuelab, BMC Air Filters and Haltech.
Premier Auto Trade is located in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and distributes
products throughout Australia via a network of specialised resellers and leading
automotive retail groups.
The Premier Auto Trade catalogues are available to specialist resellers and
distributors. For more information contact Premier Auto Trade on
1300 4 PAT SALES (1300 472 872) or visit www.premierautotrade.com.au
Grab an extended
warranty on your
Exedy clutch
Exedy has been at the forefront of new clutch
technology for more than 20 years.
Now the company wants to share its
passion for producing high quality clutch
kits with the trade mechanic and DIY user of
Exedy products.
Trade and DIY users can register their
Exedy clutch kit and receive an extended
24 month or 40,000km warranty on the kit.
Simply grab the unique identifier code from the barcode sticker on your purchased
Exedy clutch kit package and register the code online at
http://online.exedy.com.au/register
16 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
Dayco releases premium quality All Terrain Vehicle Belt Range
Dayco, the world-leader in engine belt technology and manufacturing for passenger cars, has also used its unrivalled global engine belt expertise to
release a new and exciting range of premium quality All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) engine belts while also expanding Dayco’s Scooter Belt range in the
Australian aftermarket.
With more than 150,000 ATVs registered in
Australia, these popular and highly powerful off
road recreational and farming utility vehicles
require premium quality replacement engine
belts to ensure consistent and reliable
performance, regardless of the highly
demanding operating conditions.
Dayco Australia has released three ATV
engine belt products to suit specific ATV use,
from ultra-high performance off road racing,
through to general high performance uses
through to agricultural or recreational outdoor
use.
In all, 48 ATV part numbers have been
released, covering the vast majority of these
vehicles currently in use in Australia.
The jewel in the crown of Dayco’s new ATV
engine belt product range is the Dayco XTX
(Extreme Torque) engine belt.
The Dayco XTX belt represents the highest
quality and ultra-durable replacement ATV
engine belt currently available.
Manufactured at Dayco’s high-tech
manufacturing facility in Italy, these
revolutionary new Dayco XTX belts have been
engineered to suit monster machines powered
by engines of 800cc and above capacity.
With specially formulated high temperature
Neoprene along with the highest level of Aramid
fibre loading available during the manufacturing
process, these new Dayco XTX ATV belts deliver
superb performance for the most aggressive and
rigorous ATV riders.
These outstanding ATV engine belts achieve
this with design features that include deeper
top cogs and rounded bottom cogs for ultimate
flexibility and long life.
The advantages of fitting a Dayco XTX ATV
engine belt include faster and more consistent
throttle response at high speeds, quicker
throttle response during
mid-speed acceleration,
greater secondary
acceleration at high RPM’s,
slippage reduction during
the highest levels of torque
demands, more responsive
engine braking, increased
horsepower capacity and
cooler
running
characteristics compared to
leading competing products
on the market.
The new Dayco XTX belt
has also been tested and
proven to withstand use at
12,000RPM and beyond.
The Dayco HPX (High
Performance Extreme) ATV
engine belt has been
designed to dominate any
type of terrain without
throttle
response
compromises.
Manufactured using
ultra-strong P-Aramid cord reinforcement and a
specially engineered fibre loaded Neoprene
compound, the Dayco HPX ATV engine belt
delivers the combination of strength and
durability demanded by high-performance
engines and the enthusiasts who drive them.
This Dayco ATV belt has also been proven to
run cooler and provide a longer operating life
than competing products.
The third and final new Dayco ATV engine
belt product now available from Dayco
distributors nationwide is the Dayco HP (High
Performance) ATV belt.
This product has been designed for use on
ATVs , golf carts and agricultural utility vehicles.
Manufactured from a
specially formulated Aramid
reinforced Polychloroprene
compound and P-Aramid
cord design, this base level
Dayco ATV engine belt offers
superior strength, enhanced
dimensional integrity and
stability for a long and
reliable service life.
Dayco Australia has also
continued growth of its
scooter engine belt range
which now includes 43 part
numbers covering the
majority of these highly
economical yet high
performing vehicles being
used more frequently in
Australian cities.
The Dayco Power Plus
Scooter belt features Aramid
fibre inserts that provide
high thermal stability to
the belt, which reduces
elongation, particularly when starting. These
design inclusions also ensure resistance to wear
that is twice as high as polyester manufactured
engine belts.
Dayco’s scooter belt range also features an
indentation at the back of the belt that provides
maximum flexibility, a larger mating surface and
improved belt cooling during operation.
There is no doubt that Dayco has the ATV or
scooter engine belt solution to meet any
requirement.
To view and download application listings
and for further detailed information, visit the
Dayco Australia website www.dayco.com.au
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 17

PRODUCTS
ZF develops first
seven-speed manual
transmission for
passenger cars
ZF, a worldwide leader in automotive
driveline componentry, has recently unveiled
the world’s first seven-speed manual
transmission for passenger cars, which will
be standard for Porsche’s new 911 models.
Based on the seven-speed dual clutch
transmission, also designed for Porsche, the
fast gear shifting perfectly complements the
characteristics of the 911 with the
additional seventh gear saving fuel and high
gearing achieving a sporty cruising speed at
low engine revs.
Introduced at last year’s Frankfurt Motor
Show the seventh generation of the Porsche
911 Carrera/Carrera S continues on the road
to success with its new flat twin rear engine.
ZF’s seven-speed manual transmission
(7MT) contributes to this success and offers
excellent shifting comfort and sportive
shifting forces with the 911 reaching top
speed in sixth gear, leaving the seventh high
gearing to save fuel.
In addition it is equipped with an
automatic startstop system.
Despite similar construction systems of
the seven-speed dual clutch transmission
and the seven-speed manual transmission,
the gears were arranged differently
compared to a standard H-type shift system.
As a result ZF developed converted
shifting actuators for the manual version of
the transmission so that the classical H-type
shift pattern successfully operates with the
dual clutch gearsets.
At the same time, a patented system
avoids incorrect gearshifts with the seventh
gear only engaging when directly following
the fifth or sixth gear.
ZF optionally delivers seven-speed dual
clutch transmission, lightweight pedals
made of plastics as well as suspension
bearings for damping vibrations for the
Porsche 911.
The ZF Servolectric electric power
steering is delivered by ZF Lenksysteme.
Within Australia, all ZF components and
systems are supported by ZF Services
Australia, with specialist spare parts and
servicing knowledge.
For more information visit
www.zf.com/au
Lightforce outshines the rest
According to Lightforce, no other driving light is ‘brighter, lighter or whiter’ than a Lightforce light.
This outback legend now has 50W HID as standard
across its driving lights range.
New pricing for the 35W HID and the new standard
50W HID means that now everyone seeking
performance driving lights can justify the move up to
the quality of HID.
By standardising the 50W HID model and adjusting
the price of all HID driving lights, truckies and
mainstream 4WD enthusiasts now have a choice
between the 50W HID, the 35W HID and the
traditional 100W Halogen lights across the whole Lightforce driving light range.
“Thanks to our competitive prices, our authentic Australian made and manufactured lights are now
within reach of anyone who wants the best in performance,” Lightforce’s Marketing Communications
Manager, Haydn Ryan, said.
“The fact that we have a three-year warranty on our entire range and our lights are waterproof and
dust resistant makes them ideal for all forms of driving – whether you are taking a long haul trip, or
battling thick fog or heavy rain.”
Mr Ryan said Lightforce had been the leader in HID lighting since receiving accolades from the
Australian Design Award (2003 Australian Design Mark).
“All Lightforce driving lights feature our advanced reflector technology,” he said.
“The new generation 50W HID light models go one step further and are capable of outputting 5000
lumen – 50 percent more light than previously available.
“Our driving lights have a current draw that is around three times less than equivalent halogen
lights and are able to operate from a regular 12V power supply or a 24V truck electrical system.”
For more information visit www.lightforce.com or for Lightforce TV visit
www.youtube.com/lightforceaustralia
Micro Auto Filters implements new testing regime
Micro Auto Filters has announced a new testing regime
to ensure its fast growing product range continues to
meet international standards and quality that customers
have become accustomed to and can continue to
depend on.
With an advanced technical facility, which includes
product designs and laboratory testing, it has become
a vital part of Micro Auto Filters as the company strives
for an expanding product range and quality filters.
The testing laboratory has the latest equipment to
fully evaluate life, efficiency and flow with professional
tests to international requirements.
This includes one by one oil leak tests, one by one
right angle tests, gasket one by one checks, gasket
high temperature and low temperature checks, body
print salt spray tests, flow resistance tests, pressure
pulse testing, anti-drain back and relief valve tests and
air leak tests.
These evaluations of every new Micro Auto Filters
products have become a vital part of the Micro Auto Filters quality control process before the
product has even left the door.
The company is proud of the excellent facility and the tests to make sure its filters are of the
best quality and standard possible.
To keep up to date with all of Micro Auto Filters’ filtration advancements and
technical bulletins, view the Technical Information page at
http://microautofilters.com.au/technical-info
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PRODUCTS
Mothers new product
release information
Arriving to the Australian market
from Mothers polishes are four
great new products in totally new
packaging.
The large upside down
bottles offer ease of use and
like all Mothers products, great
value and unique to car care: a
water spot remover plus two
new formulation metal polishes
and California Gold Liquid
Synthetic Wax.
Mothers California Gold
Water Spot Remover is designed
to remove stubborn hard water spots and
stains from any exterior glass surface.
Powerful mineral-dissolving agents scrub away
sun-baked sediments, salt spray,
tree sap, road grime, bugs and
paint overspray.
Use Mothers California
Gold Water Spot Remover on
exterior glass windshields,
windows and mirrors.
Mothers California Gold
Synthetic Wax provides
unparalleled depth, shine and
protection in an easy-to-apply,
effortless-to-remove formula.
The specially formulated
microencapsulated polymers
form a chemical bond to protect
your paint’s surface, while ultrafine
polishes bring out the gloss
and lustre you’ve come to expect
from Mothers.
The California Gold Metal Polish gently cleans,
restores and protects any polishable bare metal
surface to its original high-gloss shine and
brilliance using specially formulated polishes and
emollients.
Mothers California Gold Metal Polish is safe for
uncoated metals including aluminium, billet,
stainless steel, nickel, brass, silver and copper.
Use by hand, or with any of the metal polishing
tools from the Mothers PowerBall line.
The California Gold Chrome Polish is thick, rich
and easy-to-use.
It gently deep cleans and brightens chrome
bumpers, wheels, trim and accessories. Advanced
polymers help protect against fingerprints, spotting,
rust and corrosion. Mothers California Gold Chrome
Polish will not streak, scratch or smear.
It safely cleans and protects glass and mirrors.
For more information contact Command Auto
Group on 02 8853 2920
ATAP cooling range now rapidly expanding
Australian Truck & Auto Parts (ATAP) is continuing to build on its impressive range of cooling
products.
Adding to the
industry-leading ranges
from Protex, ATAP now
stocks all the market
leading brands. The
total line-up offers
complete coverage that
resellers and their trade
can rely on for range
and quality.
The ATAP Cooling
products range now
includes Protex
radiators, condensers,
water pumps and
coolant, Davies Craig
thermatic fans,
transmission oil coolers, fan clutches and electric water pumps, Kilkenny water outlets,
Mackay radiator hoses, Tridon thermostats, radiator caps, hose clamps and gaskets,
Fuelmiser switches and Bosch drive belts.
“The rapid expansion of our cooling range is really helping ATAP become a number one
supplier, with the strong backing from our quality brake, clutch, steering and suspension and
service items ranges, ATAP cannot be overlooked,” ATAP’s Carlee Moore said.
“We will continue to strive for total coverage.
“Most cooling components for popular vehicles today are currently being stocked nationally.
“Resellers should now really be making ATAP their first point of call for cooling products.”
Contact your local ATAP branch for more information.
Bosch Starter Motors and
Alternators 2012/2013
trade catalogue
Inline with its expanding range of starter motors
and alternators for the Australian and New Zealand
markets, Bosch has released an updated trade
catalogue, featuring more than 780 part numbers.
With 30 new alternator part numbers, as well
as 46 new starter motor part numbers, the range
continues its progressive growth.
Product identification using the new catalogue
has also been enhanced, with an expanded photo
and visual reference section for over 600 part
numbers.
The range also includes Bosch’s
comprehensive spare parts assortment, available to suit Australian, Asian and European
passenger and commercial vehicle applications.
Liquid-cooled, refrigeration and heavy-duty output alternators also feature in the
catalogue.
Customers can request the catalogue from their nearest Bosch distributor, or by
calling Bosch Customer Service directly on 1300 30 70 40 within Australia, or
0800 452 896 within New Zealand.
20 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
Projecta introduces two new workshop Intelli-Charge battery chargers
Two seven-stage 12V automatic Intelli-Charge Battery Chargers have been
introduced by Projecta, complementing the existing range but with
additional features ideal for small and large workshops.
The new 12V 7A seven-stage battery charger is a sophisticated and
compact charger fitted with protective rubber moulded end caps for
enhanced durability and protection, ideal for the rigours of workshop
environments.
With multi-chemistry settings for charging wet, Calcium, AGM or
gel batteries, it is ideally suited for starting, marine and deep cycle
batteries.
The power supply mode retains vehicle computer settings when
changing a battery or it can run 12V appliances.
It is shock and dust proof for the toughest of conditions and is ideal
for applications such as small passenger vehicles through to 4WDs.
The second charger is the powerful 12V 25A seven-stage charger,
which is also fitted with protective rubber moulded end caps for
superior durability and to prevent the charger from slipping off or
damaging the vehicle’s duco.
With multi-chemistry mode capabilities for charging wet, Calcium,
AGM or gel batteries, this charger is ideally suited to a range of
workshop applications from motorcycles, jet skis, passenger cars,
caravans boats to tractors.
It provides world-class seven-stage quality charging to maximise a
battery’s performance and life.
The Projecta Intelli-Charge 25A charger maintains a constant
voltage on a battery making it ideal while carrying out diagnostic work.
Its output can be easily adjusted making it suitable for charging
motorcycle batteries right up to and including truck batteries.
Both battery chargers are competitively priced and come with a twoyear
warranty.
The new advanced Projecta Intelli-Charge battery chargers are
available under part number IC700W (7A) and part number IC2500W
(25A) from leading automotive and transport outlets.
For more information visit www.projecta.com.au
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PRODUCTS
Snap-on releases its fastest scan tool yet
You’re the type that can fix anything, so don’t let a tough diagnosis stand between you and the repair.
SOLUS Ultra brings together a full range of
scan tool functions without any baggage to slow
you down.
There’s no personality keys or long boot ups,
so combine that with OEM-specific coverage
(without the added expense of factory tools)
and you have productivity and simplicity
working together in perfect harmony.
The new seven-inch full-color touch
screen not only gives you more space, but
also makes your workspace work for you.
Snap-on has reinvented the interface
with simple icon-based navigation so you
can move smoothly from one vehicle to the
next.
Create custom data lists with a tap of your
finger.
Record and play back results effortlessly.
The company has even added a unique
cause and effect function that lets you run bidirectional
controls while viewing live data.
The power to do it all is in your hands – and
it’s so easy, you’ll barely have to lift a finger.
While the screen got bigger, the tool itself
got smaller and smarter.
The new compact lithium-ion battery
charges automatically through the data cable
when connected to a vehicle.
One simple, keyless universal connector now
covers all OBD-II applications and Snap-on also
upgraded to a faster, dedicated operating
system.
The same proven and reliable technology is
used in medical devices and military
applications.
SOLUS Ultra is proof that good things really
do come in small packages.
With SOLUS Ultra, not only are you up and
running in about 10 seconds, you’re instantly
tapped into some of the best diagnostic
coverage in the business.
Get OEM-specific coverage for more than 40
makes, interactive functions from adaptations
and re-learns as well as functional tests with
on-screen live data.
Plus the Fast-Track Troubleshooter gives
you real help from real techs with millions of
experienced-based tips and time-savers.
With SOLUS Ultra in your hands, you’ll
always have the answer.
SOLUS Ultra comes with Snap-on’s
unrivalled level of support, which includes a
dedicated customer support centre,
diagnostic product specialists, a network of over
160 franchises, face-to-face technical and
product training and 24/7 online training.
Experienced Snap-on Diagnostics customer
care representatives are available to support you
on the Diagnostics Helpdesk at 02 9837 9130.
For more information contact your local
franchisee or visit the website
www.snapontools.com.au
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 23

PRODUCTS
Hema Navigator HN6
Hema Maps, which is renowned for bringing top-of-the-line accuracy and innovation to all its products, is pleased to announce its latest triumph, this time
through the Hema Navigator HN6.
The HN6 is a six-inch high
resolution GPS navigation system
with fresh features that makes it
a worthy addition to your
navigation arsenal.
The HN6 has 79 Hema
regional maps preloaded, and
with almost half of Australia
classified as desert, you can be
sure you’ll need them.
Also included is Hema’s
seamless 1:1,000,000
Australian map, 1:1,200,000
New Zealand map, and a
1:250,000 topographical Australian map,
with the exciting new addition of the NZ
1:350,000 Road Atlas giving you a complete
vision of New Zealand.
The navigation software is updated and
improved as well, with iGo Primo 2.0.1
providing comprehensive street navigation,
while Ezi-Ozi v2 offers sublime off-road
navigation.
CAMPS 6 is preloaded on the HN6 as in
previous Hema Navigators, however the HN6
now contains 2300 extra caravan and dump
points that help make the detailed decisions
in planning your route simple.
To allow you to route and detour as you go,
iGo has created an intuitive interface with
intelligent navigation, all based on NAVTEQ’s
latest map data.
iGo also provides free street updates to
buyers for two years, which are easily
downloadable from the internet via
the Naviextras Toolbox.
This means two years of the
most up-to-date maps possible,
helping you to save more in the
long run.
Off-road enthusiasts will be
pleased to hear that Ezi-Ozi is
better than ever, with plenty of new
and updated maps as well as a
high-resolution interface and a
cleaner menu layout.
The HN6 also packs a punch
with its 4GB internal memory,
allowing storage of additional data such as
international iGo maps.
The HN6 is a high-resolution solution to
your navigation needs, adding another
dimension to every journey and representing
the ideal complement to your paper maps.
For more information visit
www.hemamaps.com.au
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 25

PRODUCTS
HDi Clamp
The HDi Clamp is made of T-
6061 lightweight aluminium
and is a high pressure air or
liquid conduit joiner.
It has an impressive
operating pressure of up to
450psi in some applications
and is designed to withstand
operating temperatures of
more than 250 degrees.
It has a double O–ring
grooved sleeve providing +/- 2
degree connection angle
offering protection and
flexibility.
It is designed for a smooth
internal connection to
minimise flow disruption.
An easy self-locking
design outer ring provides
maximum pressure hold and
avoids incidental unlocking.
The HDi clamp is suitable
for intercooler piping, cold air
intakes, turbo piping or
custom air and liquid
applications.
The HDi Clamp is
designed specifically for all
aspects of the automotive
racing industry and is perfect
for custom fabrication where
extreme performance and
reliability is need.
It is available in 2.5,
2.75, three-and four-inch
diameters and custom
requirements.
For more information visit
www.hdiclamp.com
Bendix survey highlights the importance of cleaning brake
components
A survey within the trade by one of Australia’s leading brake manufacturers,
Bendix, has highlighted the importance of getting the message out regarding
cleaning brake components, especially rotors and discs when fitting, to reduce
the risk of problems in the bedding-in stage.
“With more than16 percent of respondents saying they did not
clean or wipe down disc rotors after machining them, the alarm
bells were ringing,” Bendix Product Manager, Andrew Bates, said.
“Our concern applies equally to new and re-machined rotors as
the manufacturing process includes oils, graphite, carbon and
silicone and new parts are generally covered with a rust protection
film which can all end up as residue on the rotor.
"If not cleaned carefully at the time of being fitted these
compounds and chemicals can impregnate the brake pads resulting
in a reduction in brake performance and an increase in the likelihood
of squeaking or shuddering brakes.”
A number of suggestions are recommended by Bendix to avoid
these problems. These include using a medium to fine grit emery on the
rotor while still spinning after machining and ensuring the disc is completely free of burrs.
Spraying with a non-corrosive, non-staining brake cleaner such as Bendix Brake/Parts Cleaner and Degreaser to
remove any rust protection from new rotors and to clean away any residue from machined parts is essential to ensure
these are completely clean.
Bendix Brake/Parts Cleaner and Degreaser is specifically recommended for the cleaning process as it contains no
CFCs, is ozone friendly and effectively removes all impurities.
The product can be used on all brake parts including brake assemblies, ABS, brake drums, disc pad backing
plates, calipers and wheel cylinders.
It is also ideal for use on other degreasing jobs around the workshop leaving surfaces residue free, clean and dry.
It is designed to penetrate rapidly, clean instantly and evaporate quickly. It can also be applied without
disassembling the brakes.
All components can then be wiped off with a clean soft cloth.
Where Bendix Titanium Stripe Technology brake pads are fitted, this cleaning process is also critical as these
advanced pads are not designed to perform a machining process on the rotors.
When fitting the Titanium Stripe brake pads, the important good workshop practices mentioned above must still
apply.
Further enhancing the braking performance of the job is the recommended use of Bendix Ceramic High
Performance Synthetic Brake Parts Lubricant.
This insoluble, waterproof and chemical resistant synthetic lubricant can be used on virtually all brake parts across
a wide range of vehicles including passenger vehicles, 4WDs, caravans, campervans, trailers and heavy transport
vehicles.
For more information visit www.bendix.com.au or call 1800 819 666.
Performace by Jayrad
The Performance by Jayrad range of full aluminium radiators is quickly expanding and now consists of
more than 25 assemblies.
The range has been carefully selected to cover the most common Japanese and domestic
performance applications.
Designed for both standard and high performance motors, the Performance range offers 20
percent more cooling performance than a standard radiator.
The radiators are suitable for standard, turbo, supercharged and NOS fuelled engines.
All Performance radiators are fully polished, featuring Heli-arc welding and 100 percent brazed
construction (no epoxy), available in two row 36-56mm.
Like all Jayrad products, the Performance range is produced to the highest quality standards on
the market and backed by a full two-year warranty.
For more information on this exciting range contact your local Jayrad stockist or visit www.coooldrive.com.au
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PRODUCTS
World leaders in tractor drive train systems
recommend regular torsion damper replacement
Wherever in the world that a tractor is being used, there is a high probability that it has a LuK
product which is bringing its force to the ground.
LuK, one of the leading worldwide
manufacturers of drive train products, draws
attention to workshops that tractor torsion
dampers (or powershift dampers) are a service
item with a scheduled service life that
requires regular replacement in order to
ensure optimum operation.
Many repairers incorrectly diagnose torsion
damper problems as factory faults within the
automatic transmission, when upon removal
of the gearbox it becomes clear that only the
torsion damper requires replacement – a job
that any repairer can do.
Torsion dampers are designed to reduce
torsional vibration between the engine and the
transmission that are inherent of the design
of internal combustion engines, while
maintaining engine inertia and strong power
output through the transmission
system.
Following detailed computerised
analysis of engine crankshaft rotation
and power cycle measurements along
with the transmission design of many
popular tractor brands, LuK engineers
have designed application specific
torsion dampers which are either a part
of the clutch disc, or mounted directly
into the flywheel in the case of clutchless
transmissions.
These LuK torsion dampers are able
to ‘damp out’ all of the torque peaks thereby
eliminating excitation in the transmission.
The genius of the LuK design is that the
torsion damper must be able to eliminate
excitation in the drive train under all
operating conditions, including engine
idling, full load and during overrunning.
Simple axial dampers use a series of
small coil springs mounted within a
clutch disc centre which are
compressed by each torque peak,
smoothening the torque flow into the
transmission.
Using two or three different
strengths of springs services the full
torque output of the engine between
idling and full engine output.
This type of damper frequently has
an articulation between 10 and 25
degrees.
At the other end of the scale is the
LuK designed Long Travel Damper
which uses ‘arc’ springs to provide
exceptional damping ability under all
operating conditions. This damper design is
particularly suited to higher powered engines
and can have an articulation in excess of 40
degrees.
“While all tractor engines fluctuate in
RPM speed, our detailed testing has shown
that LuK torsion dampers almost completely
eliminate the fluctuations in the transmission
input speed, making tractors more quiet,
vibration free and more comfortable to drive,”
Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket Product
Specialist, Brett Sage, said.
“Repairers should always check the
condition and service life timeframe of torsion
or power shift dampers before sending
customers back to dealers and losing not only
the repair work but possibly customers as a
result.”
To find out more about LuK’s replacement
parts for tractors or to order information
material, contact Automotive Manager
Pierre Marshall at 1300 LuK INA FAG
(1300 585 462) or email
LuK-AS.au@Schaeffler.com
Bosch Wiper Blades and Refills 2012/2013 trade
catalogue
With a comprehensive range of wiper systems, now consisting of six specialised product lines, Bosch has
introduced an updated catalogue to the Australian market, featuring its complete wiper product range.
The innovative Multi-Clip wiper blade is now a well-established product in
Australian workshops and this new catalogue sees the inclusion of its 11 part numbers to the application data.
Alongside this is the recently introduced rear wiper blade range, featuring 44 part numbers, specifically
designed to ensure clear vision from the rear of the vehicle.
Bosch’s wiper refill application data is also included, as is information on the complete washer fluid range,
which now includes a 20-litre trade pack.
Customers can request the catalogue from their nearest Bosch distributor, or by calling Bosch Customer
Service directly on 1300 30 70 40.
28 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
New Torque Clamp
Clutch website
Inventory management that delivers
Horizon Inventory can you help tackle the effective management of the range and depth of parts you stock,
one of the biggest problems in the auto aftermarket.
Alloy Race Components launched a new
website on June 1 for its Torque Clamp
Clutch range.
The new interactive website at
www.torqueclamp.com features
instruction videos as well as customer
cars racing from Australia and overseas.
Customers can access the new
website on their smart phones for step by
step instructions while they fit the
products.
The website also shows interviews
with Torque Clamp Clutch users showing
their pride and joys with interesting
technical specs.
For more information phone
03 9588 2994
The software can help you stretch your
inventory investment further.
You set the service level objectives and the
returns you wish to achieve across your range and
the software does all the detailed optimisation,
which makes life easier and a lot more profitable.
With better inventory decisions you and your
customers can enjoy faster response to parts
requests, less inconvenience and higher
productivity.
As it optimises the range and depth of parts
carried, the software makes millions of small
decisions which together can add to large results.
A lot is done for you automatically.
This is guided by rules and policies that you
can set and adjust as business conditions
change. The software will also alert you to items
that really require your attention and your time.
This can significantly reduce your risk of
ending up with excess inventory.
If you do end up with excess anywhere in your
network, detailed business cases evaluate
whether you should wait a little longer for sales
to flow, or bite the bullet and move the stock
now.
In time, better management of range helps
improve your reputation for service.
Customers will come to you first and they
won’t mind paying a bit more too, because they
know you can deliver with just one phone call.
The Horizon Inventory management software
does this by looking at more than 20 different,
critical factors as to how the inventory ought to
be managed.
If cars have four wheels and two front brakes,
why does existing software ask you to carry three
of each
The Horizon Inventory software rapidly learns
the quantities in which each part is used, enabling
the optimal amount of every part to be carried.
And all this is done without you having to do
virtually anything.
Matching items like bearings and seals means
that all the parts needed for a job can be in stock.
Your branch staff will appreciate that they can
spend more time helping satisfy customers and less
time chasing stock.
This can all be achieved with just one staff
person monitoring some simple recommendations
from the software for an hour or two once a month.
If some of your suppliers offer rebates for
achieving levels of spend over time, the danger of
course is that you will over order at the end of the
year, and create excess for the future. Instead tell
the software how much extra you need to order to
get to your rebate levels (or to fill a container) and
the software will recommend an optimal mix of
extra parts, without creating future headaches.
Other capabilities include optimised container
ordering and supplier lead time management - just
some of the many things that set Horizon
Inventory’s solutions apart.
And it can be all so easy.
The micq-if software can be bolted on, just like
a business supercharger.
See how to stretch your parts range further at
www.horizoninventory.com.au or contact the
office on 02 8507 0190 or John Allen on
0412 971 825.
Xtreme Clutch drives fastest R35GTR on earth
In late March, a new R35 GTR terminal world speed record was set at the RAF Military Base at
Marham, Norfolk in the United Kingdom.
The car, dubbed The Hulk, managed a record run of 218.03 mph in wet conditions,
showing potential to performing 220+ mph in dry conditions.
The Severn Valley Motorsports car features a newly developed clutch friction product
from Xtreme Clutch, world leaders in wet clutch friction technology.
View the youtube video by searching for “SVM the hulk”.
For more information phone Xtreme Clutch 1800 CLUTCH (1800 258 824)
30 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
Don’t overlook your wiper category this winter
Boost your sales and profitability with Trico Products.
Often an overlooked category, replacing wiper
blade assemblies is an opportunity often missed
when servicing vehicles; an oversight that could
prove costly if not understood.
The numbers are positive and they could be
added onto your bottom line.
Trico Products, a wiper category specialist,
provides resellers and workshops with education,
promotional programs, trade support and
marketing activities to ensure you get some of
the action. Want to know more
From June 10, Trico will run TV advertising
targeted at the male enthusiast in core
programming across sports and males skewed
TV programs.
This TVC supports “you don’t get a second
chance” and that Trico is the right wiper blade
choice for all circumstances, every time.
“I am excited, it’s been a long time in the
making and we are committed to ongoing
support to our customers,” General Manager
Peter Avenall said.
“We will provide them with the right
opportunities and education when stocking and
fitting our range of Trico wiper products.
“We are actively engaging with our resellers
and workshops so they can be the specialists in
the trade.”
The website has been updated with
increased functionality, including mobile
compatibility, the most comprehensive vehicle
application guide, specialist program
information, updated and detailed product
information, media releases, videos, where to
buy information and an email newsletter sign up
form.
The dedicated team is calling on workshops
and resellers in each state to promote the
launch of the new specialist program for
selected mechanical workshops featuring
tailored education to train fitters how to
correctly identify wiper opportunities, correct
blade assembly installation techniques,
the diversity and quality of the Trico
product range across all price points and
providing evidence and support to the
trade of the benefits for their businesses.
Trico will be recognising those
partners that join the specialist program,
providing signage and POS for their workshop
and ongoing support.
If you are going to replace wipers, you only
want to fit Trico!
Trico National Sales Manager Gareth Walker
said with such diversity in the local vehicle mix
these days it just isn’t always as simple as fitting
a universal refill anymore.
“There are more specific designs used and a
growing number of vehicles that cannot be fitted
with refills at all,” he said.
“At Trico we have worked hard to ensure our
depth and breadth of range remains at the
forefront of the industry but to complement this
we have built market leading programs for both
resellers and mechanics that add knowledge to
their staff, enabling them to service their
customers professionally whilst increasing
profitability.
“Our new ‘vision specialist program’ will set
a higher standard for training and support of the
workshop fitters ensuring those workshops
become experts in the industry.”
Mr Walker said the specialist program will
also deliver additional sales for the company’s
reseller market but it hasn’t stopped
there.
“Leading into this winter we have really
stepped up our promotional activity with our
reseller market to ensure everyone gets a piece
of the action,” he said.
“If you are not with Trico, are you really
getting the best”
Ensure you are partnering with the industry
expert, the category expert in vision.
Trico is one of the world’s leading wiper blade
companies, dedicated to providing clear vision to
drivers for more than 90 years.
The company supplies the world’s leading
car manufacturers and is totally focused on
meeting the needs of the automotive industry in
the one category of visibility products.
Call Trico now if you wish to find out more
about how you can boost your sales. Don’t
overlook this golden opportunity. The team can
show you how the numbers stack up!
Visit the Trico website at
www.tricoproducts.com.au to subscribe to
the newsletter for future product updates,
information and events or call
1300 MY TRICO (1300 698 742).
Narva releases new multi-voltage slimline range of trailer lamps
Narva’s popular Model 34 and 36 trailer slimline lamps with a depth of just 24 mm have now been
released in 9 - 33V multi-voltage..
These two slimline light trailer lamps come with a host of features making them now even
more popular due to their ease of mounting and suitability for applications where traditional lamps
can be vulnerable to damage.
Ideal for boat, tradesmen’s and home trailers, campervans and caravans, the new 9-33V multivoltage
LED lamps include stop/tail, direction indicator plus a retro reflector and are supplied
complete with stainless steel screws.
Longlife LEDs, covered by Narva’s five year warranty, provide peace of mind and the lamps
come fully sealed against the ingress of dust and water with 0.5m of hard wired tinned cable
fitted.
The virtually unbreakable polycarbonate lens adds an extra dimension to the lamps which are blister packed with full graphics displaying their
attractive features and benefits.
The new Narva multi-voltage slimline Model 34 (part number 93432BL) and Model 36 (part number 93632BL) lamps are available from leading
automotive, transport and marine outlets at prices starting from $39.95.
For more information visit www.narva.com.au
32 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
SMART-O intelligent drain plug now available in ready-to-use steel case
SMART-O, reputedly the most innovative and eco-friendly drain plug on the market, has released a ready to use steel case with dividers to hold the
12 most commonly used sump plug sizes in Australia.
The case has a plug size chart inside the lid,
along with a gauge and a Form-Fit-Function
Chart to quickly confirm the size of the plug
being replaced, plus a CD of installation and
promotional information.
SMART-O, according to the company, is the
most advanced drain plug program which offers
the safest sealing and retention
mechanism ever devised.
The SMART-O plug was
originally invented and patented in
the USA, to counteract what the
inventors witnessed as frequent
failures of drain plugs in garages
up to dealerships.
Failures appeared in
terms of oil leaks,
p r o b l e m a t i c
sealing when oil
pan threads were
worn, or even
negligent installation
by service mechanics
causing the plugs to fall out
with sudden oil loss and engine damage as a
result.
The engineered O-ring specially developed
by Parker and DuPont self-expands up to 10
percent upon contact with oil.
The plug achieves superior sealing
performance and protection against oil
leaks, self-loosening of the plug
while offering
oil pan thread
p r o t e c t i o n ,
environmental
benefits and an
extra profit item
for service
operators and
retailers.
The SMART-O plug
range is consolidated into
only 17 plug sizes which
cover 95 percent of the
world’s automotive market,
resulting in space and
inventory cost savings.
For end-users, the SMART-O plug offers
piece of mind while reducing the risk of the
unpleasant discovery of oil leaks under the car
or on the driveway, and the
inherent risk of damage
to their engine,
environmental
cleanup costs,
protracted and
uncertain
negotiations
about engine
replacements and
compensations
from the service
operators.
For service operators the
implication would be liability costs, increased
insurance premiums, engine replacement costs,
damage to corporate image and lost customers.
For more information contact Phenix
Industries on 02 9437 0666 or visit
www.phenixindustries.com.au
34 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
Micro Auto Filters launches website
Micro Auto Filters has launched its website combining catalogues, product
lists and product info, a cross reference search, how to guides, how filters
are made and much more.
The website is at www.microautofilters.com.au
“Right from the beginning of our operation we knew that we had to
offer something better to our customers,” Director Steven Radisich said.
“I feel that our site not only had to be a tool that you, our valued
customers could use every day, but can be a point of contact for
news/updates etc.
“We feel that this is a huge step forward for our company, and even
better knowing that this is only the beginning of what’s to come.”
Micro Auto Filters is a family owned company with directors Steven and
Sandra Radisich and their son Mathew.
When you call Micro Auto Filters you speak directly with Steven,
Sandra and Mathew.
The Radisich family has been in the automotive industry for several
generations as business owners of mechanical and performance race
shops.
They have a wealth of knowledge, skill and invaluable experience in the
automotive industry and are specialists with high performance and race
cars.
The Radisich name is well known in Australasia with car racing legends
Frank and Paul Radisich.
As in motorsport quality is the number one objective of the Radisichs
and Micro Auto Filters.
Micro Auto Filters is a wholesaler of an extensive range of oil, air and
fuel filters for a wide variety of vehicles, including high performance cars.
The operation developed in the 1990s and has since established itself
as a supplier of high quality automotive filters at competitive prices.
The products meet the standards specified by the OE and vehicle
equipment manufacturers and the packaging includes fitting instructions
and step-by-step illustrations.
Customers can also purchase spark plug leads from HT Leads, another
division of the company.
The Australian made spark plug leads are geared for the automotive
market and include OE style replacement leads, gas type leads and
performance leads for the performance market.
For more information visit the website www.microautofilters.com.au
or call 03 9775 1979.
Dayco presents the most innovative engine belt advancement in 25 years
Dayco, the world leader in engine belt technology and manufacturing, presents the most innovative advancement in engine belt design and technology for
more than 25 years, the Dayco W Profile Poly-Rib engine belt.
The company that introduced the immensely successful Dayco Poly-
Rib engine belt design to vehicle manufacturers more than three decades
ago and having dominated the global automotive aftermarket since, has
developed a patented replacement engine belt design that is truly
remarkable.
Featuring an Aramid re-enforced EPDM compound and a unique ‘W’
shaped rib design, the new Dayco W-Profile Poly-
Rib engine belt range has been designed to quiet
down the most problematic engine drive
systems.
Dayco’s patented new W shaped rib
design ensures engine belt stability and
accuracy over a longer service life, which is
imperative to the silent, responsive and
economical performance of modern
day engines and their ever
increasing auxiliary systems.
Dayco has engineered each W Profile Poly-Rib
engine belt application based on the general
characteristics of each application’s drive system.
It is important to note that there is no single
engine belt design that will work with every
application, hence why there are many issues that are
created by replacing engine belts that are not
application specific in their design.
This new Dayco engine belt design has been
developed and tested to deal with all too common
aftermarket application issues such as squeal caused by
relative slip between the engine belt and a pulley, squeak caused by a
momentary slip, and chirp caused by relative misalignment by pulleys in
a drive system.
The initial range of Dayco W-Profile Poly-Rib engine belts will cover
popular Holden, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan models that have known
problem noisy drives.
The initial range of nine part numbers covers almost 300 vehicle
applications.
Repairers can also take advantage of the free Dayco Engine Belt Wear
Awareness Gauge that enables easy checking of engine belt wear levels
to recommend replacements to their customers when necessary.
These gauges are available from Dayco distributors nationwide.
Dayco Australia Managing Director, Arnold Mouw, said the new
Dayco W-Profile Poly-Rib engine belt range represents the most
significant step forward in engine belt design for more than a
quarter of a century.
“The new design was two years in the making, representing a
considerable research and development investment by Dayco, to
ensure that our customers are using the highest quality
aftermarket engine belt products,” he said.
“The new Dayco W Profile Poly-Rib engine belt range will
gradually replace the current premium quality Dayco Poly-Rib
engine belt range as existing stocks are depleted through our
distributors.
“We are proud to be delivering this state of the art engine
belt technology to the Australian aftermarket.”
For more information visit www.dayco.com.au
36 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
New Phase III Whipple supercharger kit
The latest and greatest power upgrade for the Ford Boss V8 has just got better, with the introduction of the Phase III version of the 2.4L Twin-Screw
Whipple supercharger kit.
This new and improved version retains the
‘absolute stealth’ design but now with its all
in one cast design has allowed Yella Terra to
create a larger plenum and runner design for
even more power and torque potential.
The new design boasts a 50 percent larger
intercooler core, which in conjunction with
Whipple’s Twin-Screw efficiency gives you
unmatched cooling capacity and manifold
discharge temps for consistent power at all
boost levels, in any conditions. Professionally
engineered in Australia to ISO 9001
standards and with a base kit that is ADR
compliant in all states, this is still the
ultimate bolt on supercharger package giving
you amazing low-end torque and mind
blowing power while maintaining everyday
drivability.
The new Phase III features the latest
generation Whipple 2.4L Screw Based
Compressor, new all in one cast manifold for
less heat soak, a 50 percent larger single
pass internal intercooler core, a 30 percent
larger manifold plenum design for maximum
HP potential, 20 percent larger CNC ported
intake runners for improved torque and flow
and an ultimate stealth design fitting under
factory throttle lid and covers.
The independent eight rib drive system
STD provides maximum belt grip for hi boost
applications, the 60lbs hi flow injectors suit
factory wiring plugs and it comes with a
unique triple pass, 40mm thick alloy
intercooler front radiator core and full colour
step-by-step fitting instructions.
For more information visit Yella Terra at
www.yellaterra.com.au
38 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
Drastically slash operating costs and reduce your carbon footprint
Solar power with a difference for your auto business.
Newly joined AAAA member, Solar Depot Commercial from South
Australia, is not your average solar panel installation company.
With 25 years of renewable energy industry experience, Solar Depot
has thousands of projects under its belt including solar farms, large
and small scale commercial, off-grid communities and local
government projects.
Marketing Representative Tim Possingham explained why the
company has joined the AAAA.
“First of all, solar should be examined by all businesses; most
people do not know that they can depreciate their solar power system
and claim GST as they would with any other business asset,” he said.
“This and the fact that the system will offset rising electricity costs
means that a typical commercial system can
have a payback period as low as three years
with flow on, cost saving benefits lasting over
25 years.
“Typical energy usage patterns of
businesses that are automotive based are a
good match for solar… high usage
throughout the day and little power being
used in the evening.
“This applies to retail stores, workshops
and most manufacturers.”
Mr Possingham said Solar Depot has the capability to take on
projects nationwide.
“We are currently communicating with large automotive retail chains
with the view to eliminate the power bills of dozens of their stores and
we also provide a grid-backup option for businesses that cannot afford
to have unexpected power outages that occur with normal power supply
at times,” he said.
“We have great interest from businesses that run CNC machinery as
well as retail.
“Here grid backup via a commercial battery system can be designed
to give enough power to let operators shut down machines properly,
rather than everything just coming to a grinding halt mid-job.
“With retail, shop owners need tills and basic lighting to keep
operating; we can design a system to keep a business running for an
hour or an entire day without normal grid-supply power if need be.”
Mr Possingham said all of this is very affordable and now more than
ever is the best time to buy.
“To put it bluntly, at present these commercial scale systems are a
no-brainer in terms of return on investment and payback,” he said.
“We have tailored proposals for each project, no
matter how big or small, each one comes with a
comprehensive financial matrix that clearly shows
return on investment in an easy to understand format.”
Mr Possingham said in many cases Solar Depot
has had a company’s accountant or financial controller
sign up for a system after they have realised the
benefits and seen the system in action.
“You struggle to get just 6.5 percent return on your
investment these days, let alone the massive 25 percent-plus offered
by installing your own solar power generation system,” he said.
As part of its commitment to reducing a company’s energy costs,
Solar Depot also has a tool for calculating energy savings and cost
reduction by switching to LED lighting in various or all areas of your
business.
It even has solutions for the commonly used Metal Halide and
Sodium Vapour Lamps that are used in warehouses and carpark
floodlighting.
Typical payback periods on these forms of lighting can be as low as
two years.
“It is not uncommon for us to prepare a solution that includes LED
lighting as well as a commercial grade solar power system and see the
entire package eliminate the businesses power bills as well as deliver
a payback period of under four years,” Mr Possingham said.
Solar Depot can be contacted on 08 8382 7555, the website is at
www.solardepot.com.au or call Kay Thornton-Cohen who is Solar
Depot’s National Automotive Specialist on 0409 709 146.
Hot Devil Map/Pro trade kit
Hot Devil’s success continues with the launch of its new Map/Pro Twin Pack Trade Kit.
The kit features one ‘Fast Flame’ torch head and two Map/Pro cylinders which are all contained in a robust
carry case for safe keeping.
The Fast Flame torch has been engineered to produce a larger and stronger flame and features brass
fittings, automatic ignition, anti-flare, adjustable flame control and a stainless steel nozzle.
Not only is this torch useful for plumbing jobs but also ideal for use on mechanical repairs such as loosening
ceased or rusted bolts and repairs to exhaust systems.
No matter what the job is, Hot Devil’s range of propane and Map/Pro torches will provide premium
performance to the professional tradesman.
For more information contact Hot Devil on 03 9775 0713 or visit the website www.hotdevil.com.au to view
the complete range of Hot Devil products.
40 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
Holden Astra
combustion
misfire faults
Tech tip explaining some of the
causes and fault finding procedures
in diagnosing combustion misfires
Engine misfires and associated
fault codes stored in the ECU
memory can be a result of many
electrical and or mechanical
malfunctions.
For instance, a lean air-fuel
mixture due to excessive air leakage
of a faulty EGR valve, incorrect
output signal of a malfunctioning
air mass meter or insufficient or no
spark output from the ignition coil
pack are regularly experienced
faults.
However, engine mechanical
malfunctions resulting in engine
misfires can also result in some of
the above codes to be stored in the
ECU memory.
Diagnosis: Ensure you have
completed all fundamental and
preliminary checks.
For instance, check for intake
air leaks, manifold vacuum,
engine compression (it is
favourable to conduct a cylinder
leakage test to confirm engine
condition) and ensure hydraulic
cam followers are not
malfunctioning i.e. holding intake
or exhaust valves open.
AFI suggests that a fuel
pressure and flow test be
conducted and thoroughly check
any other possible causes that can
result in an engine misfire which
isn’t directly related to the engine
management system.
AFI dealers stock numerous
commonly replaced products for
the Holden Astra, including the
ignition coil assembly for TS
Z18XE and X18XE engines,
crankshaft position sensor for the
TS Z18XE and camshaft position
sensors, EGR valves and mass air
flow sensors.
Visit the website
www.afi-australia.com.au for
more information.
Jump starters models BJC-2000/BJC-
4000 and models BJT-75/BJT-200
Durst is a leader in manufacturing jump starters for all types of cars, trucks and
heavy equipment to suit Australian conditions.
Whether you are in the cold of Kosciusko or the
harsh deserts of the outback, there is a Durst jump
starter to suit your needs.
The light and portable BJC-2000, a 12 volt
model, will start the family car with ease time and
time again.
It’s light and easy to operate, foolproof and
reliable.
The 2000 comes with its own Switchmode
charger so when not in use simply plug the charger
into the BJC-2000 and it’s ready for use at anytime.
Throw it into the boot to go and start the wife’s car
in the supermarket parking lot.
Bigger brother to the 2000 is the BJC-4000.
Again, it is light and portable and just as easy to
use, but this little monster will do both cars and light
trucks and for the more technical minded it is both
12 and 24 volt.
It is ideal for the family saloon, the light
commercial industry Hino, Isuzu, Hyundai or your
motor home or camper van.
Both the 2000 and the 4000 have all the safety
features, fuse protection, anti-spike protection, come
with their own Switchmode chargers for fully
automatic set and forget, reverse polarity warning
buzzer and LED warning indicators, long life and
maintenance free and will jump start vehicles with
dead flat batteries.
Both the 2000 and 4000 comply with all OH&S
regulations.
With all the safety features as in the 2000 and
4000 but much more grunt to do those heavy duty
jobs, Durst has the BJT-75 jump starter to suit
trucks, buses, bulldozer and earthmovers.
The very heavy duty 12 volt model has 785 CCA
(cold cranking amps).
It’s mobile, on
inflatable tyres, for
ease of use on any
surface or terrain,
with two metre
leads and heavy
duty alligator
clamps.
This model
starter is made for
the heavy duty
multiply 12 volt battery vehicles, is reliable, easy to
operate and comes with its own Switchmode charger
for set and forget.
It is ideal for the workshop yet mobile enough to
throw on the back of the ute to get that broken down
vehicle up and going in no time flat.
Now to the ‘Rocky Balboa’ of this group of jump
starters is the workhorse that will start just about
anything.
That’s why the industry including the State Transit
Authority use this to start their Government Buses at
all 11 Depots throughout Sydney.
With 1960CCA this model has the power yet is
portable enough to take out on the job, again with
inflatable tyres, strong steel powder coated cabinet
and all the whistles and bells to meet OH&S and the
Australian Standards requirements.
This unit can even be used as a mobile power
supply.
The units are designed by Australians to meet the
needs of the Australian market but are also exported
to more than 11 countries throughout the world.
For more information on the Durst product range
visit www.durst.com.au or phone 02 9660 1755.
Powerful and flexible LED map/reading lights
Narva has introduced stylish, powerful LED interior map/reading lights with strong flexible arms which are
ideal for a wide range of applications.
Available in 15cm or 40cm flexible arm lengths, each light features a powerful 9 -33 multi-voltage
1W LED providing a crisp white light output designed to reduce eyestrain when reading.
The light is activated by an on/off touch switch integrated into the lens while the sturdy flexible arm
enables quick and easy light adjustment.
Ideal for permanent mounting in caravans, camper trailers
and trucks, the new lights provide illumination exactly where it
is required with handy flexibility.
Attractively packed in clear blister packs, the new Narva
map/reading lights are covered by Narva’s five-year LED warranty
and are available from leading automotive, recreational vehicle
and transport outlets at prices starting from about $79.95.
For more information visit www.narva.com.au
42 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTS
Continental introduces the
ContiMaxContact MC5
Continental, one of the world’s leading tyre suppliers, has
launched a new product line specifically designed for
consumers in the Asia Pacific, including Australia, and
delivering maximum comfort and performance - the
ContiMaxContactTM MC5.
Featuring the leading German technology Continental is
renowned for, the ContiMaxContactTM MC5 offers drivers
extreme handling thanks to the new Activated Silica Compound,
which contributes to the optimisation of the grip and steering
performance on both dry and wet roads.
The ContiMaxContactTM MC5 also features another
innovative design in the Continental Noise Breaker, which
considerably reduces noise and gives excellent comfort to both
drivers and passengers.
The development of the ContiMaxContactTM MC5 has
created a significant breakthrough in tyre
technology by resolving the conflict
between handling and comfort.
“The designed-for-Asia MC5 is
developed with full consideration
of all the influential factors to
Asian consumer's driving
expectation,” Dr Erhard Barho,
R&D Director of Continental
Business Unit Replacement
Passenger and Light Truck Tyres
Asia Pacific, said.
“The R&D approach has not
only considered the consumer
requirement but also climate, vehicle
replacement frequency and driving habits.
“We believe this new innovative MC5 will bring super driving
pleasure to our consumers with outstanding performance plus
comfort.”
The launch of ContiMaxContactTM MC5 also brings the
possibility of further expansion of the existing tyre marketplace
in Asia Pacific by introducing a new ‘Comfort and Performance’
tyre line.
Antonio Lopes de Seabra, the Executive Vice President of
Continental Business Unit Replacement Asia Pacific, Passenger
and Light Truck Tyres, said the launch of ContiMaxContactTM
MC5 was an important regional product line the company
introduced across Asia.
“APAC region is a vibrant marketplace and high on our
agenda,” he said.
“We will continue our investment in Asia Pacific and
demonstrate the strength of German technology to our
consumers and partners in Asia with the best possible
products.”
The best tyre choice for all situations, the
ContiMaxContactTM MC5 is suited for a wide range of vehicles
in Australia.
The ContiMaxContactTM MC5 offers tyres ranging from 40
to 55 aspect ratio series in 16, 17 and 18 inches with a
maximum speed of 270km per hour.
For more information, visit www.continental-tyres.com.au
Bremtec the new standard in brake
friction
When choosing a new vehicle,
lots of people make their
decisions with airbags, crumple
zones, and several other safety
features in mind.
But many take for granted
one of the most important safety
systems a vehicle can offer - the
brakes.
With so many cheap and
underperforming brake pads on
the market, choosing the right brake pad now is more important than ever.
Bremtec brake pads are manufactured to the highest original equipment
standard, developed and engineered to offer the optimum balance of performance
and durability.
All Bremtec brake pads are manufactured to be quiet in all operating
conditions and come fitted with Wolverine shims as standard to ensure that brake
noise and shuttering are dramatically reduced.
When it comes to the safety of your customer you can trust Bremtec, the new
standard in brake friction.
Call 1300 FRICTION (1300 374 284) for your nearest stockist or
visit www.brakefriction.com/distributors
Gates has the parts you need to service
hybrid vehicles
The automotive industry is evolving.
Automotive manufacturers are now using technology to engineer vehicles with
increased fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.
These hybrid vehicles use advanced engine technology that enables them to use
a combination of petrol and electric battery
power.
Hybrid vehicle technology has automatic
start and shut off, regenerative braking and
drive assist that enables greater energy
efficiency and minimises effects of idling with
no increased wear on engine components.
An idling engine is highly inefficient; it
produces harmful carbon dioxide and wastes
an enormous amount of fuel.
With the significant fuel price increases,
hybrid vehicles will continue to become even
more popular.
In Australia and New Zealand there are now
around 20,000 hybrid vehicles on the road and
Gates has the parts to help you service these
vehicles today.
Gates has parts for the most popular hybrid
vehicles including the Honda Civic, Lexus
GS450H, Lexus RX400H and Toyota Prius.
Contact your nearest Gates distributor to
order the parts you need or visit
www.GatesDistributorLocator.com.au
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PRODUCTS
Natrad continues to grow stronger
Natrad, one of Australia’s most recognised and trusted radiator and
air-conditioning specialist groups, is looking to grow its franchise
numbers by 50 percent over the next five years.
Natrad currently has 80 franchise workshops in regional and
metropolitan areas around Australia.
Natrad Regional Manager, Graham Norris, said the growth of
the franchise would likely come from ‘non-radiator’ businesses
seeking to join the franchise.
“The growth for us will come from existing businesses that are
looking to diversify – such as air-conditioning mechanics, motor
mechanics, auto electricians, industrial automatic industry
professionals, etc,” Mr Norris said.
“We are fast becoming an ‘auto care’ professional, offering all
kinds of mechanical solutions in addition to being radiator
specialists.
“Likewise, we believe there are others in the market place who
are looking to grow their offer, with the backing of a well-known
national brand.”
The Natrad franchise model was launched in 1984 as an
efficient supply chain to service both retail aftermarket and trade
customers.
In 2006 the ADRAD Group of Companies acquired the parent
company, Natra.
Natrad has earned an iconic reputation within the motor repair
industry – the parent company Natra was a major supplier in the
past to the likes of Holden and Ford.
With 10 major warehouses located around Australia, Natrad
claims it has the largest range of sourced radiator products in the
country.
The extension of the Natrad Heavy Duty Specialist Group is a
recent addition to the Natrad brand, addressing the need for highly
skilled cooling technicians for heavy industry cooling including
trucking, mining, agricultural and large transport fleets.
Following the acquisition in 2006, Natrad completed a
rationalisation program, the goal being to develop a very strong
retail-focused group of outlets that could be grown.
Natrad reduced the number of store numbers, redeveloped its
franchise model, enhanced its systems and processes and
launched a new strategy to grow.
Natrad National Marketing Manager, Sara Ghanavati, said the
network of franchises clearly represents the strategic direction of
the brand.
“We needed to conduct the review and restructure to ensure we
had uniformity and committed franchisees throughout the group,”
she said.
Ms Ghanavati said the company has also ensured that it has
moved with changing market demands.
“We have never forgotten about or compromised service to our
trade customers whilst at the same time placing more energy and
emphasis on growing the retail side of the business,” she said.
“It was a case for us of reassessing direction and consolidating
the franchise group in order to grow and move forward and this is
now occurring.”
If you are interested in joining a trusted brand with a long
and successful history, contact head office on
03 9795 1255, National Recruitment Manager Hayden
Roberts on 08 8243 9860, email info@natrad.com.au or
visit www.natrad.com.au
ADR approved and street legal high
performance globes
Leading globe and lighting technology company Narva has released Australia’s first
complete range of fully ADR compliant and street legal performance headlamp
globes.
Motorists can now upgrade to
globes that deliver amazingly superior
light and performance with the peace
of mind that each globe in the new
Narva range is ADR approved and
street legal.
For automotive retailers and the
trade generally, the promotion of
Narva globes eliminates any thoughts
about the legalities or otherwise of
the various globe options and the
concerns related to their
recommendations.
For those looking to see further
there are now three options. These
are Plus50, Plus100 and for the first
time in Australia, a Plus120 globe.
A practical street legal upgrade
that improves road safety by
increasing the light volume by 50
percent is the Plus50 globe.
This upgrade allows up to 20
metres longer beam and is suitable
for polycarbonate lamps with no
increase in power consumption or
heat.
Through maximising the Xenon
filler gas in the Plus100 globe, driver
vision has been dramatically
improved with the delivery of 100
percent more light on the road. These
globes achieve up to 35 metres
longer beam without any increase in
heat or power consumption.
One of the premium performance
globes, delivering the highest light
output available, is the new Narva
Plus120 performance globe.
These produce 120 percent more
light on the road compared with a
conventional halogen globe, achieving
up to 40 metres longer beam with no
increase on power consumption or
heat.
Normal halogen globes are rated at
3200 Kelvin and Blue Plus90 globes
combine the benefits of 90 percent
more light on the road compared with
conventional globes, with a 20
percent whiter light output delivering
3750K.
The Arctic Plus50 globe at 3900K
with its distinctive white headlamp
appearance has 50 percent more light
volume.
‘Intense’ is the latest breakthrough
from Narva completing the ADR
approved range.
At 4200K this globe delivers the
maximum legal blue, bright white
light output and brilliant steel blue
headlamp appearance with up to 30
percent more light volume.
A new 24V filament design in the
24V Plus100 globes produces 100
percent more life and light volume on
the road with no increase in power
consumption or heat build up that
could impact on the vehicle wiring.
For more information visit
www.narva.com.au
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CHEMICALS
Valvoline, a subsidiary of Ashland,
has introduced NextGen to its family
of products.
Following the release of NextGen
in the USA and Europe, NextGen
products became available to
Australian consumers from March
2012.
Engine oil does not wear out
Something that is not widely
known is that engine oil molecules
do not wear out.
The oil becomes dirty and the
additives get depleted, but the oil is
still an effective lubricant.
In the past, attempts to re-use engine oil
were less than successful because the
technology to re-refine the oil was not
available, but this has now changed.
Used engine oil can now be collected,
filtered, de-watered, re-refined and rehydrogenated.
The end result is a base oil that has the
same performance characteristics as base oil
derived from crude oil.
The environmental benefit is that all the
energy and resources used to find, drill,
extract, transport and refine crude are
significantly reduced through the use of rerefined
base stock.
Engine oil does not wear out
Introducing Valvoline NextGen, engine protection that doesn’t cost the earth
Valvoline is well known in Australia as a
manufacturer of engine lubricants.
The company prides itself on products
that exceed performance standards.
With the release of Valvoline NextGen,
the company is able to provide motorists
with an engine oil that is both technically
advanced and environmentally responsible.
Using 50 percent re-refined base stock
and advanced additive chemistry, NextGen
meets or exceeds industry standards,
delivering on performance standards to
provide 100 percent Valvoline protection.
NextGen is available for a wide range of
petrol and diesel passenger cars, 4WDS and
Carbon clean with ProStream
light trucks as well as hydraulic for
commercial and industrial use.
Protect your engine, protect the
planet
“NextGen is an exciting new product
that is invigorating the oil industry,”
Valvoline Australia Marketing Manager,
Tony McDermott, said.
“As the first brand in oil, it is fitting
that we are again first to bring innovation
in engine lubrication with a product that
focuses on environmental sustainability.
“Valvoline has been protecting
engines for over 140 years, and we are
proud to introduce a product that continues
to deliver Valvoline’s high performance
standards while effectively protecting the
planet.”
Valvoline NextGen 15W-40 5L, product
number 1018.50, and Valvoline NextGen
Diesel 15W-40 5L, product number
1019.50, are available at Auto One and
Supercheap Auto.
For more information visit
www.autoone.com.au
www.supercheapauto.com.au
www.valvolinenextgen.com.au or
www.valvoline.com.au
Carbon build is becoming an increasing problem in modern engines causing a variety of problems.
Vehicle manufacturers must meet strict
emission requirements and as a result
engines are being designed which produce
more power at lower engine speeds.
The reduced airflow speed through
intake and engine allow carbon deposits to
form more easily.
These carbon deposits cause a number
of problems including throttle body
restrictions causing poor idle, stalling and
lack of engine responsiveness.
One of the biggest factors here though
relates to oil consumption and engine wear.
If a ring becomes jammed or restricted
from carbon it reduces its ability to contain
the combustion gases resulting in lower
compression, burning of oil in the combustion
chamber and increased engine wear.
Exhaust gas recirculation value and
carbon build up within other pollution
equipment can cause a number of
problems.
Firstly, it can result in the failure of
pollution equipment causing increased
emissions and possibly engine
performance.
Secondly, faulty emission equipment
such as EGR valves can increase the flow of
exhaust gases through the intake system
compounding the problem.
Problems are usually related to blockages
or restrictions in the muffler or catalytic
convertors, which appear gradually over time
and are often hard to fault find.
Engine sensors can be severely impacted
by carbon buildup resulting in incorrect
readings being sent to the engines
Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
There are two solutions for the removal
of carbon buildup inside engines.
The first one is extremely costly and time
consuming as it involves dismantling the
engine (or parts thereof) and manually
removing carbon from the affected
components. In most cases this is not a
viable option as it is too costly.
The second option is to perform an oncar
throttle body and intake clean.
Using this method a specially formulated
carbon cleaning product is introduced into
the intake stream while the engine is
running.
This product is designed to dissolve and
disperse carbon deposits all the way through
the intake, combustion and exhaust system
of the vehicle.
This solution allows problematic carbon,
wax and other buildups to be removed easily
and quickly from the engine restoring lost
power, economy and fuel emissions.
ProStream has an on car throttle body
and intake cleaning solution.
For more information call ProStream on
03 5251 1268 or visit
www.prostream.com.au
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CHEMICALS
Burson Automotive – the one stop shop for quality
workshop chemicals
The extensive range of premium quality automotive products available from Burson Automotive now includes a large
selection of automotive chemicals.
Available in both 20 litre and 200 litre containers, the vast
selection available
ensures that one visit
to a Burson Auto Parts
store or a call to
1300 287 766 will
service all of your
workshop chemical
requirements at value
prices.
The 96 store
Burson Automotive
network is supported by
more than 350 delivery
vehicles to ensure that
Burson’s valued trade
customers receive fast
and efficient delivery of
workshop chemical products.
These include brake cleaner, tyre shine, solvent
B cleaner, acetone, white spirits, degreaser, WD
fluid, parts wash solvent (HF), kerosene, X55 solvent, brake fluid,
methanol, windscreen wash and methylated spirits.
Since 1971 Burson Auto Parts has provided the Australian
automotive trade with the highest quality brands in the
business.
Known as The Parts
Professionals, every Burson
Auto Parts store is run by a
team of professionals
whose extensive technical
knowledge ensures that
their trade customers
receive the right chemical
products for any specific
workshop application.
Contact your local Burson
Auto Parts Store today on
1300 287766 or visit
Burson online at
www.burson.com.au
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CHEMICALS
Graco Matrix Wireless Fluid Management System
Graco’s Matrix Wireless Fluid Management System easily tracks, monitors and reports oils, coolants and waste fluids.
Applications include dealerships, fleet
maintenance facilities, maintenance
workshops and industrial in-plant
lubrication applications.
System components include fluid
dispense meters, Tank Level Monitors
(TLM), transceivers, Pump Air Controls
(PAC), and of course, operating software.
The use of wireless communications is
one of the innovative features of Matrix.
Significant cost reductions
from a more simplified
installation is the major
benefit as there is no need for
expensive electrical and data
cabling.
One simple cable direct to
the computer is basically all
the system needs to work.
Just this facet alone can
reduce any installation by up
to 30 percent.
Matrix doesn’t require
expensive alterations to
existing pipework either.
Unlike other systems, components
installed into pipework cost you time in lost
workshop operations and money from
having to pay to have your lines filtered
after the job is complete.
Matrix is equally as popular in
retrofitting existing facilities as well as new
installations.
Gain time in your facility by wirelessly
sending a work order straight to the
dispense
meter at the bay, and then get a
confirmation back that dispensing is
complete.
The Matrix Total Fluid Management
System by Graco automatically posts fluid
dispenses to the work order, reducing
human error and lost inventory.
Matrix can also automatically email
tank fluid levels to oil suppliers, oil
recyclers or other users.
With the support of the world’s largest
fluid dispensing equipment manufacturer,
and the offer of a totally wireless fluid
management system, there is a solution
the company can provide to suit
almost any application.
For an overview of how Matrix
can work for your business, contact
Graco direct and a copy of the
Matrix DVD will be rushed to you.
Call Graco Australia on
03 9468 8500 or email
info_APLube@graco.com
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CHEMICALS
Fuchs Petrolub CEO visits Australia to
announce significant investment
Fuchs Petrolub Global CEO, Stefan Fuchs, recently visited Australia to announce a
significant investment and expansion of the Melbourne and Newcastle facilities.
Visiting Australia for the 2012 Fuchs
Australasia National Sales Conference, Mr
Fuchs made the announcement in his
presentation to staff, detailing plans for a
$5.5 million expansion of the Melbourne
facility and a major redevelopment in
Newcastle.
“I very much enjoyed my visit and the
hospitality of the Fuchs Australasia team,”
Mr Fuchs said.
“There is an enormous amount of drive,
dedication and commitment amongst the
team here, which will undoubtedly be the
basis for further success in the future.”
Part of a global investment program by the
Fuchs Group, the announcement of
additional investment into the region follows
the launch last year of a world class Regional
Lubricant Laboratory and Technical Centre in
Melbourne, boosting local and regional
lubricant development and sales.
“We were proud to welcome Fuchs Group
Chairman and CEO Stefan Fuchs and Fuchs
Petrolub AG Executive Board Member Dr
Georg Lingg to our National Sales
Conference,” Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia)
Managing Director, Wayne Hoiles, said.
“The initiatives announced at the
conference testify to the great track record of
Fuchs Australasia, and the Fuchs Group’s
commitment to our region.
“After the conference, both Mr Fuchs and
Dr Lingg spent a day with both staff and
customers at our Melbourne head office.”
The National Sales Conference was held
at Mansion Hotel and Spa in Werribee Park
and featured three days of technical training,
new product information, corporate updates
and marketing initiatives.
To coincide with the National Sales
Conference, 60 of Fuchs’ Australian and New
Zealand commercial customers were invited
to the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercars event in
Adelaide as VIP guests.
The customers were chosen as part of an
incentive program, and received a complete
VIP experience package.
The guests were flown into Melbourne on
the final day of the National Sales
Conference to meet CEO Stephen Fuchs and
receive a tour of the Melbourne facilities,
before being flown to Adelaide to experience
the first round of the V8 Supercars at the
Clipsal 500.
They received pit tours, a corporate box
experience, meet and greet with drivers, and
they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
For more information visit www.fuchs.com.au
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CHEMICALS
Avoid the harm and downtime of chemical spills
Major chemical spills have been in the news a lot lately and are a reminder that even on a smaller scale, all
hazardous chemicals must be stored according to EPA regulations to prevent harm to workers, the community or
to the environment – and to avoid downtime.
Environmental Protection Agencies in
Australia require that all drums and other
primary containers containing hazardous
liquids are stored in a bunded area that
must be able to contain 110 percent of the
capacity of the largest drum or 25 percent
of the total, whichever is the greater.
To help companies comply, Enware
Australia has introduced tough spill
equipment that complies with some of the
world’s most demanding packaging and
environmental standards for handling,
storage and transporting of hazardous
materials.
The two and four drum polyethylene
spill pallets, and two, four, six and eight
drum workstations, are part of a range of
spill containment, environmental and
worker protection products from Enware.
The products include the two drum
forkliftable Poly-Spillpallet 2000 with a
900kg load bearing capacity UDL and a
sump capacity of 220.4 litres with drain
hole and plug.
With non-skid removable grates, it
weighs only 28.35kg.
The four drum Poly Slim-Line 6000 is
forkliftable from all four sides and with a
load bearing capacity of 2700kg UDL in
four 205-litre drums.
This low (30cm) profile product
features a raised edge on back and sides
to help secure barrels.
The space saving, four-drum Poly-
Spillpallet 3000 permits drum storage
near walls and between columns and other
obstacles.
This low (30cm) profile pallet with
raised edge has a load bearing capacity of
1350kg and 250.8 litre sump.
Drums Workstations in two, four, six and
eight drum capacities are designed to
integrate into factory and workshop floors,
optimising space, safety and efficiency.
Constructed in tough, one-piece
polyethylene, they are easy to load with
low-profile design, optional ramp and large
sump capacity.
They are ideal as a dispensing station
or work centre.
Multiple Drums Workstations can be
combined by a Link-lock feature,
combining the workstations into a tough,
stable surface that won’t rust or corrode.
Workstations feature rolled edge design
to help resist crack and warpage and have
strong, structural foam, grates that remove
for easy cleaning.
The Enpac range of spill pallets and
workstations is intelligently designed to
enable workers to boost site productivity by
moving liquid chemicals about the site
more quickly.
Enware Australia Managing Director,
Paul Degnan, said the pallets and
workstations limit the worker, community
and environmental exposure to hazardous
chemicals.
“In these days of media attention being
focused on chemical spillages, companies
can be assured that they are complying
with the law and don’t run the risk of
adverse publicity, or even in the worst case
being closed down altogether, because of
breaches of the environmental
regulations,” he said.
“A further benefit is that onsite costs
are minimised by reclaiming liquid spillage
and reducing the clean-up and disposal
costs of spills.”
Mr Degnan said the Enpac range is
unique in Australasia because it brings
together in one system a complete range
of solutions to materials handling issues
commonly arising across a broad spectrum
of industrial applications.
For more information contact Enware
Australia at info@enware.com.au call
02 9525 9511 or visit www.enware.com.au
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TECHNICAL COLUMN
Steering and suspension
In addition to passenger comfort, the steering and suspension is still responsible for
maximising the traction between tyres and the road, supporting the vehicle mass,
keeping the vehicle on the desired bearing, and compensating for external
disturbances such as bumps or wind.
The car chassis therefore bears a central
responsibility for driving comfort, dynamics
and safety – what ultimately makes driving a
car an enjoyable and safe experience.
In the three years since the last technical
article on this subject, the fundamentals of
steering and suspension have not changed
extensively.
What has changed is the wider
incorporation of electronics into steering and
suspension systems to facilitate integration
with other on-board safety features, the
growth of hybrid and electric car development
and further improvement of safety, efficiency
and comfort.
In addition there has been a considerable
‘flow-down’ effect where sophisticated
suspension and steering specifications from
luxury vehicles are now available on many mid
or medium level cars.
SUSPENSION
Suspension systems can be broadly
classified into three types. A passive
suspension system is the most common type
where the parameters such as spring and
shock absorber are pre-programmed and
fixed. A semi-active suspension is one which
is externally controlled where the suspension,
primarily the shock absorber, is reacting to
operating conditions. As electronics have
become more sophisticated the opportunities
in this area have expanded. An active
suspension system has the ability to store,
dissipate and to introduce energy to the
system and vary these parameters depending
upon operating conditions.
Demands for better ride comfort, road
handling and controllability of passenger cars
has motivated automotive manufacturers to
use active and semi-active suspensions in
middle to top range vehicles, due to their
effectiveness for increasing car comfort and
stability.
Passive Suspension: The suspension
systems in many entry and medium level
vehicles on the road today are passive. The
chassis of the vehicle is attached to the axles
or wheel assemblies through coil springs that
help to protect the chassis from sudden
vertical forces applied to the wheels (e.g.
bumpy roads and pot holes). The shock
absorbers help to dissipate the energy applied
to the springs and damp the oscillations that
would normally occur when a brief excitation
is applied to a mass-spring system. But
passive suspension systems using springs and
fixed valve shock absorbers have significant
limitations, in that their design parameters
are chosen to achieve a specific compromise
of road holding, load carrying and comfort
under a wide variety of road conditions.
Semi-active suspension systems change
the viscous damping coefficient of the shock
absorber, generally using a solenoid valve
which alters the flow of the oil inside the
shock absorber. At the entry level of semiactive
systems are dual modes which have
two selectable damper characteristics, usually
sport and comfort modes. The driver can
select these via a switch located in the cabin,
which changes the damper control orifices
using an electro-mechanical solenoid. A
further enhancement of this system is the
addition of a simple electronic control unit
which analyses data such as vehicle speed,
steering angle, brakes etc. and switches
between sport and comfort modes
accordingly.
At the other end of the scale are
electronically controlled variable systems,
which set the correct damping for every
driving condition. The intelligent control
system utilises shock absorbers with
electronically controlled proportioning valves,
a sensor system and an electronic control
unit. This control unit continuously monitors
all influences on the driving conditions such
as steering wheel angle, vehicle speed, brake
pressure and other chassis control
information and sends signals that
independently adjust the damping level for
each shock absorber valve, appropriate to
those conditions.
An innovative and novel technology which
Fig 1: Semi Active
Suspension Damper
is now available on many vehicles around the
world, including Holden HSV models, is
magneto-rheological (MR) damper technology.
This system does not rely on complex electromechanical
valves used in conventional
variable damping systems but uses an MR
Readers are invited to send technical
enquiries of a general nature to:
rabrown8@bigpond.com
fluid incorporating iron particles which, when
subjected to a magnetic field, increases the
fluid viscosity. This allows the damping
characteristics of the shock absorber to be
continuously controlled by varying the power
of an electromagnet. The electromagnetic coil
is incorporated into the damper piston and,
when the current is off, the MR fluid is not
magnetised and the fluid behaves like
conventional hydraulic oil. When the coil is
energised, the magnetic field causes the
particles to align into fibrous structures in the
direction of the magnetic flux. The strength
of bond between the particles is proportional
to the strength of the magnetic field, so
changing the current provides real-time
variable damping, with a very large range of
force variation possible. The control system
of these dampers incorporates an electronic
controller that communicates with other
vehicle sensors and chassis controllers in
order to determine the prevailing driving
conditions in a matter of milliseconds. This
system offers increased damper tuning
capacity, a very large range of damping and
faster response over valve-based controlled
suspension systems.
Active Suspension: A fully active system
introduces energy to the suspension system,
normally using hydraulic or pneumatic
actuators which can exert independent forces
on the suspension. Currently available
systems typically use sensors to monitor
vehicle ride height and other operating
parameters and an electronic control unit
makes appropriate adjustments using a pump
to increase or decrease pressure in the
actuators. The range of adjustments that can
be made include increasing the ride height of
vehicles when used off-road, lowering the
vehicle when travelling at speed to increase
stability and reduce aerodynamic drag,
stiffening the suspension to reduce body roll
and pitching and therefore improving vehicle
handling and softening the suspension to
improve occupant ride quality. Mechanically
these systems have been around for quite
some time but the advancement in electronic
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TECHNICAL COLUMN
control systems has enabled the optimisation
of ride and handling outcomes.
An interesting recent innovation is the
active stabiliser bar system where the
stabiliser bar is cut in half and a hydraulic
rotary actuator is placed in between the two
ends. When the vehicle is cornering, the
lateral acceleration of the vehicle is measured
and the anti-roll torque required in keeping
the vehicle flat and stable is calculated. An
electronic control unit (ECU) determines the
magnitude and direction of the hydraulic
pressure and provides signals to a control unit
that uses the actuator to apply a reverse-twist
to the bar, to compensate for body roll during
turns. Hydraulic power is provided by a pump
driven electrically or by the engine.
With the advancement of camera
technologies in vehicles, such as that used
for lane departure warning, it is foreseeable
that a similar technology could be used to
examine the road ahead and adjust the active
suspension in accordance with road
conditions. For example, the suspension
could be stiffened just before the entrance to
a bend and softened after exit to increase
occupant comfort.
Active suspensions are high cost, add
complexity and use considerable power and
therefore will continue to be only available on
premium luxury vehicles for the foreseeable
future.
Active Wheel Suspension (AWS) is a novel
technology first developed by Michelin some
years ago with specific application to electric
vehicles. Now that electric vehicles are a
reality in the marketplace, the uptake of this
technology in an OE application is not far
away.
This system is a drive-train, suspension
and braking package all housed inside an
essentially standard wheel. One of a pair of
electric motors drives the wheel while the
other operates as an active suspension
system. A standard disc brake with regenerative
capabilities completes the
package.
AWS can be used on front and/or rear of
the vehicle and hence a two or all-wheel drive
set-up is possible. The active suspension
system uses coil springs to support the weight
of the vehicle and an electric motor operating
computer controlled rack and pinion actuators
in lieu of shock absorbers. The fast, three
millisecond response of the system smooths
out road undulations and all pitching and
rolling motions are automatically corrected.
The obvious advantage of such a system
is the packaging benefits of freeing-up space
normally occupied by a conventional electric
motor/transmission driveline and associated
weight savings potentially increasing battery
life.
Fig 2: Michelin Active
Wheel Suspension
STEERING
While hydraulic systems previously were
the mainstream, highly energy efficient
electric-powered steering systems are growing
in demand, reflecting the market’s need for
further improvements in environmental
performance. Today, these systems can be
found in an increasing number of compact
and mid-sized cars worldwide. A significant
benefit of electric-powered systems is their
ease of installation and use in electric and
hybrid vehicles.
Electric Power Steering: When compared to
the operation of a conventional hydraulic
power steering system, the simpler electric
power steering increases efficiency because it
does not draw a continuous amount of power
directly from the engine. If the steering wheel
is kept in a constant position when driving
straight ahead or cornering, the electric motor
is inactive and therefore does not use any
energy. Other advantages of electric powerassisted
steering include its simplicity, its
lower power consumption thereby improving
fuel economy, and its compactness, resulting
in lower overall weight.
Electric Power Steering (EPS) uses an
electric motor to provide steering assist
instead of hydraulic pressure used on older
systems. Sensors detect the motion and
torque of the steering column, and an
Electronic Control Unit (ECU) applies a
torque via an electric motor coupled directly
to either the steering gear or steering column
shaft. The amount of assistance applied
depends on driving conditions. Most EPS
systems have variable assist, which allows for
Fig 3: Electric Power
Steering System
more assistance as the speed of the vehicle
decreases and less assistance from the
system during high speed situations. On some
cars the amount of assistance can be
regulated by the driver using a button that
switches between different assist curves. In
the unlikely event of an electrical failure, the
rack and pinion mechanical linkage continues
to operate normally, albeit without any power
assist.
Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering: In
a further development of EPS, Honda’s
recently released Motion-Adaptive EPS will be
expanded further on 2013 models. Motion-
Adaptive EPS is a sophisticated new system
that incorporates driving stability technology
which initiates steering inputs that prompt
the driver to steer in the correct direction
during cornering and when experiencing
slippery road conditions. Using vehicle speed
and steering angle data, Motion-Adaptive EPS
works with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) to
detect instability in low traction conditions
(both during cornering and under braking)
and automatically initiates steering inputs
aimed at prompting the driver to steer in the
correct direction. This new advanced
technology supports the driver's action in
operating the vehicle more safely and
comfortably.
Emergency Steer Assist: A number of car
manufacturers are currently developing an
entirely new approach to collision avoidance
by assisting drivers to evade and steer past an
obstacle, while maintaining vehicle control.
Cars that stop or slow down automatically in
anticipation of a possible collision are not
new, but the latest pre-collision system adds
a steering control system. If a driver is
travelling at a speed that has gone beyond the
last possible point where braking would have
an effect, it is still possible to avoid a collision
through steering around or taking evasive
action. Toyota recently demonstrated its latest
technology that will both slow and steer away
from an impact with another vehicle or
pedestrian.
Toyota’s system uses both cameras and
sensitive radar to detect objects in the
vehicle’s path. It then calculates the amount
of both braking and steering necessary to
avoid a collision. If steering away from a
pending crash is an option, the system takes
control of the vehicle’s steering and executes
an avoidance manoeuvre. Toyota isn’t saying
when this system will become available but
have hinted that the technology is mature,
probably indicating that implementation is
not far away.
Acknowledgement of assistance in preparation
of this article to Toyota, Honda, Continental
and ZF
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COVER FEATURE
EXPERIENCE MONROE GAS-MAGNUM TDT ON
YOUR SMARTPHONE AS WELL AS ON THE ROAD!
Tenneco has always been respected as a leader in automotive aftermarket marketing.
The company’s many industry
marketing awards attest to its status as a
trail blazer in promoting one of
Australia’s top selling brands of shock
absorbers, Monroe.
Tenneco now presents a marketing
experience that is sure to gain the
attention of 4WD owners nationwide.
The new Monroe Gas-Magnum TDT
advertisement that will appear in
consumer publications during 2012 looks
fairly simple at the first glance, but it is
far from that. After a quick smartphone
download of ‘Aurasma Lite’ the reader is
able to point the phone at the
advertisement and finally cross the
divide between print and digital media.
The advertisement comes to life
through a smartphone with a Nissan
Patrol driving through the road that
appears on the advertisement and into
the distance and then cuts away to a 30
second video which shows the vehicle in
true off road action.
The video also highlights the features
and benefits of Monroe Gas-Magnum
TDT 4x4 shock absorbers.
At the conclusion of the short and
informative video, the smartphone
automatically generates the Monroe
Gas-Magnum TDT product page on the
Monroe website.
“Innovation is what Monroe is all
about and such innovation is not limited
to our premium quality shock absorber
product range,” Tenneco Aftermarket
Director, Roger Lassen, said.
“It also extends to our marketing
strategies.
“Monroe is proud to be the first
automotive aftermarket brand to use
Aurasma technology with our print
media advertising and it represents the
next step in engaging our end user
customers via the same technology that
provides them with more information
than virtually any other source, their
smartphones.”
Monroe has also incorporated QR
coding with the new Monroe Gas-
Magnum TDT advertising and is
introducing other digital marketing
initiatives across its product range during
2012.
These are new and innovative calls to
action to ensure that Australian 4WD
motorists are aware of the high quality
replacement shock absorbers available to
ensure optimum off road handling and
safety.
Of primary importance is the fact that
Monroe Gas-Magnum TDT 4WD shock
absorbers are Australian made for
Australian conditions by leaders in shock
absorber design and manufacturing
technology.
Designed to master the entire
spectrum of Australian four wheel drive
activity, Monroe Gas-Magnum TDT 4WD
shock absorbers combine Tenneco’s
exclusive Twin Disc Technology with the
legendary durability of one of Monroe’s
most popular 4WD replacement shock
absorbers, the Monroe Gas-Magnum.
“Monroe Gas-Magnum TDT is a
product that we have developed and
engineered to provide improved
performance no matter how the vehicle
is being used,” Mr Lassen said.
“Even the most city-bound 4x4 driver
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COVER FEATURE
reserves the right to go off road and expect their vehicle to perform
strongly.”
Monroe’s exclusive Twin Disc Technology (TDT) has been
combined with the legendary durability of Monroe’s Gas Magnum
to yield a specialty shock absorber that provides safety and comfort
on virtually any type of surface.
The Monroe Gas-Magnum TDT is engineered to take the knocks
and produce maximum damping response in all four wheel drive
applications, with minimal fading when subjected to extremely
harsh conditions.
On crowded city roads, Monroe’s Gas-Magnum TDT smooths out
the constant acceleration and braking of heavy traffic and
eliminates the sway associated with a high centre of gravity
(including light commercial vehicles) while producing faster steering
and braking response and superior stability in emergency situations.
Monroe Gas-Magnum TDT shock absorbers are backed by a
three-year, 60-thousand kilometre nationwide warranty
Other advantages of the Monroe Gas Magnum TDT replacement
4WD shock absorber:
* Nitrogen gas charged
* 1-3/8 ” (35mm) bore
* Multi stage, high displacement valving
* Superior quality chrome rod
* Multi lip seal
* Non ride height dependant
* Three year/60,000 km warranty.
To find out more contact Monroe Australia’s customer service team on
1800 088 205.
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MEMBER FEATURE
SERVICING CARS WHILE YOU SHOP
FOR OVER 40 YEARS
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service is all about convenience. It’s a place where you can get your new tyres fitted and
your car serviced while you go shopping.
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service was
launched when the first ever Kmart
store was opened in Burwood Victoria
in 1969.
“It was a pretty small operation at
the time; fitting stereos and new tyres,”
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service Managing
Director, John Sink, explained.
In 1992 the division was separated
from the main Kmart business when it
purchased one of its suppliers called
Tyremaster – a wholesale tyre company
based in Sydney.
“To see how it was run before to
now is chalk and cheese,” Mr Sink said.
“The seat covers etc. was the main
part of the automotive side and where
they used to focus, while the workshop
side was the poor cousin. But now
we’ve created something that has its
own position in the marketplace – a
pretty prominent one.
“We’ve had to carve out our own
identity as a sub-brand of Kmart. Kmart
is the big brand, always; but we work
off the back of that with our own
value.
“We’ve doubled our stores over the
last 20 years and grown eight times
from what we were – pretty strong
growth!”
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service has more
than 250 workshops throughout
Australia and the company has plans to
grow that number significantly over
the next five years. Most are attached
to Kmart department stores but 90 are
stand-alone workshops.
“We don’t need them to be attached
to a department store to be successful
as we have a strong enough subbrand,”
Mr Sink said.
“We bought Shell Auto Service and
that gave us locations where it’s hard
to get zoning, like the lower North
Shore, Sydney, Canberra, which gave us
a whole bunch of stores that were hard
to get into otherwise.”
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service has
worked hard to develop a service that is
convenient for a large target audience.
“We see families as our main
customers; people who are ‘time-poor’
as we are in well-situated areas where
they either live or shop – that’s where
we try and be. It’s people who use their
car as part of their life but it isn’t their
life, so they are our prime customers.
But over the last couple years we’ve
tried to grow our fleet business as well,
particularly on the tyre side and added
some extra resources,” Mr Sink said.
“It’s all about expanding our focus;
a little bit more focus on our fleet side
to grow that percentage a little more
without ignoring our traditional
homeland.”
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service has
positioned itself as the place to go if
you are looking for a trustworthy
mechanic that won’t rip you off.
“Our real focus in the way we go to
the market is about communication
and transparency with our customers.
That’s a really important part of our
proposition. It’s part of our television
commercials, part of our training and
part of how we do business. Three
years ago we started surveying our
customers and we call nearly 4000
customers a month and do a customer
satisfaction survey, so we like to think
we listen very well and we share that
information with the stores,” Mr Sink
said.
A big part of this transparency is
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service’s investment
in programs to help educate and
inform its customers.
“We’ve invested in technology to
communicate better. Our vehicle visuals
is a computer program animation that
can explain technical work to customers
providing email links, helping to
explain technical jargon. It can explain,
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MEMBER FEATURE
for example, what a timing belt does
and the impact a broken one will have
in the car with a very simple
explanation,” Mr Sink explained.
“We SMS all our customers when
their cars are ready and that helps us
communicate with them and gives us
more control and credibility… we are
building a strong communication
platform.”
Mr Sink believes that while the
strong Kmart brand has been of benefit
to the Tyre & Auto Service business, it
has also brought its challenges.
“The Kmart brand has always been a
double-edged sword. It’s a brand that
means value. That works particularly
well when you’re selling tyres and other
products. But when you get into the
more technical products we sell, services
etc., it probably doesn’t create as much
value. It can hinder you in a way,” Mr
Sink said.
“However, Kmart is doing a really
good job at repositioning themselves
and what they stand for, so we are
happy to work under the Kmart brand.
But we are also happy to work within
our own niche. We build strong
relationships with our customers and
people who try us go on a journey with
us.”
Mr Sink believes that a major turning
point in the Kmart Tyre & Auto Service
business took place in 2006 when it sold
its wholesale division, Tyremaster, to
Kumho tyres.
“That took out any conflicts of
interest we had in our minds, as we
were selling to wholesalers and retailers
at the same time. We were supplying
tyres to the whole industry including to
people we were in competition with.
When we sold that it gave us a narrow
focus as retailers to do what was right
for our retail business. That gave us a
clear vision of who we were,” Mr Sink
explained.
“That conflict still exists with other
tyre suppliers in Australia. But we found
that freed us to be really good at one
thing; not trying to be too many
different things.”
He is convinced that being located
conveniently for its target audience has
provided the business with a huge
competitive advantage.
“We are in 160 shopping centres, and
it’s difficult to get in shopping centres
as an automotive business with zoning,
price etc. But 160 of our 250 stores are
in shopping centres, which we see as a
real convenience competitive
advantage,” Mr Sink said.
“Ultimately we are where our
customers want us. And we are
increasingly open on Sundays, which
isn’t common.”
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service also prides
itself on being both a tyre supplier and
a service centre in one.
“A lot of our competitors are just
tyre guys or service people, yet we are
strong with both,” Mr Sink said.
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service has
implemented a strategy, which Mr Sink
hopes will strengthen the brand to
become the dominant player in its
market.
“We obviously want to grow. We’ve
got a vision to be Australia’s largest and
most respected automotive service
repairer and tyre retailer. That’s what
we talk about throughout our business.
One part is (being the) most respected
(service centre brand), which is really
important to us, whether that’s
customers, repairers etc. The other part
is that we like to talk about ourselves as
retailers.
“A lot of the people in our industry
like to use the term dealer, but we like
retailer because we find it changes our
mindset to become more customer
orientated. Dealer suggests you’re a
wheeler-dealer, while retailer puts the
focus on the customer.”
Mr Sink believes Kmart Tyre & Auto
Service is a destination for its customers
where they get tyres, repairs and
services, and it even has a car insurance
policy option which is an extension of
whole range of products for its
customers – it really is the convenient
one-stop workshop for your car.
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Providing precise and instantaneous
measurement, the Easy 3D guarantees
rapid performance, with high repeatability
of measurement results, easy runout
compensation, real time displayed values
and it’s mobile and space saving!
The Beissbarth Easy 3D is easy and fast
to operate, even without special knowledge
of wheel alignment.
The entire measurement process,
including runout compensation takes just
seven minutes from driving onto the lift, to
producing the results printout.
With the Beissbarth universal wheel
clamps, runout compensation can be
carried out simply by driving the car.
As motor vibration does not affect
results, it is no longer necessary for
mechanics to push the vehicle back and
forth by hand.
It is also not necessary to exit the
vehicle during the runout compensation
process.
So how does it work The Easy 3D offers
3D wheel alignment for each wheel by
using the principle of triangulation.
Two cameras are used to sight a single
measuring plate.
The angle and the spacing of the two
As easy as 3D!
The new Beissbarth Easy 3D is the easiest solution for wheel alignment
cameras are known, so triangulation can be
applied to determine the angle and
therefore the distance to the points on the
plate.
One camera handles toe measurement
to the other sensor and two pendulums
determine the centre of gravity enabling the
position of the sensors to be determined.
The stereo cameras serve to determine
the wheels axis of rotation.
The integrated reference system in each
sensor head ensures reliable, reproducible,
virtually real-time measurement results
without complicated or potentially errorprone
calibration.
This technical solution comprising hightech
state of the art cameras, which are
lightweight, durable and impact resistant,
and the integrated reference system is the
first of its kind and patented.
The slimline Easy 3D is completely
mobile and extremely compact, fitting
perfectly in even the smallest workshops.
And thanks to the Beissbarth patented
reference system the Easy 3D sensors are
portable, making fixed attachment and
calibration a thing of the past, leaving the
lifting platform freed up for other work as
required.
Easy 3D is also ideal for operation on
wheel alignment pits and four post hoists.
The Easy 3D wheel aligner is suitable
for aligning all types of cars, through to
vans and light commercial vehicles.
For more information on the Beissbarth Easy
3D or any other product in the Beissbarth
range call 1300 783 031 or visit the
website www.beissbarth.com.au
New online Monroe shock absorber catalogue
Tenneco presents its most comprehensive catalogue yet - and it is entirely available online at www.monroe.com.au
The new online
catalogue provides fast and
easy reference to a host of
new packaging and part
number changes along with
many other advantages.
Placing the Monroe
shock absorber catalogue
online also enables Tenneco
to keep you updated with
the constant release of new
Monroe shock absorber
aftermarket products.
The new online
catalogue becomes a part
of the existing Monroe
website, so there is no
complication in locating it
or using it.
All application listings
will be laid out online
exactly as they have appeared in hard copy
in the past, while something that a print
copy cannot provide are quick search links
to locate the correct Monroe product by
either vehicle model
or by part number.
As the Monroe
online catalogue is
updated as soon as
new products are
released, access to
Monroe shock
absorber applications
is up to the minute.
Customers will also be
able to easily print
results if necessary,
while hyperlinks have
also been included
that link directly to
product notes,
training and fitment
information to make it
the total one stop
resource guide.
Using the Monroe shock absorbers
catalogue will free up time that was
previously spent manually searching for
applications, while also providing the
ability for repairers and re-sellers to
immediately respond to customer requests.
This is particularly important for
workshops who are also Monroe Safety
Specialists, as calls that are directed to
their businesses from the toll free program
hotline or from the Monroe website can be
quickly and efficiently dealt with.
“Since our last print catalogue, Monroe
has released 343 new part numbers and
250 of these are specifically for European,
Korean and Japanese vehicle
applications,” Tenneco Marketing
Manager, Brydon Tweddell, said.
“This coupled with new packaging and
part number changes led to the decision to
develop this new version of the Monroe
catalogue online, with the emphasis being
on making it as easy to use and as
informative as possible.
“We will continue to publish Monroe
print catalogues in the future.”
For more information visit
www.monroe.com.au
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Gabriel Fleetline truck shock absorbers
The Australasian Gabriel Agents, Brandlines, has announced a major extension of Gabriel Fleetline shock absorbers for
truck and HD truck application.
The Gabriel USA company Ride
Control is a major OE shock
absorber supplier to truck
manufacturers and therefore has
extensive coverage of shocks for
trucks such as Kenworth and
Mack.
All these components combine
to provide the ultimate in HD truck
performance and durability.
Most of today’s trucks have low
friction suspension such as air spring
and taper leaf which have a great deal of
vertical travel.
In conjunction with Brandlines, Gabriel
has extended its Fleetline range to cover
popular Japanese trucks and it’s in this
market that Brandlines is about to release
additional shock absorber applications.
The Gabriel Fleetline HD truck shock
line is impressive and comprises no less
than four basic types, headed by a 41mm
piston bore shock of rugged construction, a
three position adjustable version and an
adjustable that incorporates a gas cell.
The fourth member of the
Fleetline quartet is a 35 mm HD hydraulic
shock that is also used as a cab shock and
steering stabiliser.
Most of the shocks feature cold formed,
360 degrees arc welded mounts, multi lip
seals, bulged cylinders, hydraulic stop,
floating piston seal and 10 stage all coil
spring valving.
This means truck shock absorbers work
hard and play an important part in the
control of suspension oscillations.
Gabriel Fleetline shock absorbers offer
the opportunity of plus sales in this
segment of the market.
For more information phone Brandlines on
02 9457 9488
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Terrain Tamer expands suspension range
Terrain Tamer’s already large suspension range has recently expanded even further with the addition of new strut type
shock absorbers and coil spring models.
Improving on OEM standards, the new
strut type range of Terrain Tamer shock
absorbers are hardened with a chrome
finish outer casing and feature a longer and
thicker 20mm shaft, designed to
accommodate a two inch lift.
The neck and bore are both also up to
25 percent wider, with the bore measuring
40mm, as opposed to the standard
30mm, and the outer body has
been made larger to allow an
increase in oil volume so that the
shock to run cooler for longer.
The twin tube design and multi
stage valving system provides
stronger control over rebound
forces and is finished with 360
degree welding to improve on the
two side spot welding of genuine shockers.
The kits includes all parts required to
complete the lift of each particular vehicle,
including springs, shocks and, where
necessary, U-bolts, bushes and steering
dampener.
The new Terrain Tamer shock absorber
range is available for a full range of
vehicles including popular LandCruiser,
Hilux, Navara, Triton, DMax and Ranger
models, and are tested to Terrain Tamer’s
standard to ensure the highest quality.
With the range now incorporating more
than 360 part numbers, the new additions
suit various applications from the
Mercedes Sprinter Van through to the
Navara/Pathfinder R51, both Thai and
Spain built models.
Rack ends are an integral part of the
vehicle’s rack and pinion steering system.
The symptoms that usually indicate
worn rack ends can include a ‘loose’
feeling at the steering wheel, steering
wander and/or excessive wear on the front
tyres.
As part of Roadsafe’s growing front end
business, rack ends are an important
inclusion.
With more OEs offering only complete
replacement racks if a replacement is
required, it is imperative that Roadsafe
continues to offer the most common
In addition to
this, Terrain Tamer
has added a new
range of Australian
made coil springs,
manufactured from premium quality stress
material from One Steel before being bar
peeled and polished to the exact size to
remove all surface defects before being cut
to length.
After being heated to 1000 degrees
Celsius, the material is formed on
computer controlled machines and
hardened by quenching in oil to achieve a
Roadsafe rackin’ up the numbers
wearing item on the rack
individually – the rack
ends.
“Offering rack ends
as a serviceable item is
a much more cost
effective maintenance
option for the customer than
having to replace a complete rack,
which in some cases saves
thousands of dollars,” Roadsafe
Product Marketing Manager, Tania
Allatt, said.
“We are working hard on continually
increasing the range to cater to our
expanding Australian market.”
With 360-plus part numbers, Roadsafe
stocks a wide range of rack ends to fit most
applications.
“And if we don’t list a rack end for your
hardness of 62 HRC
(Rockwell hardness).
Following this, each
coil spring is tempered by
electronic controlled heat
treatment to 500 degrees
Celsius and a hardness of
52HRC.
If required, spring end
grinding is applied and
shot peening of the
surface is completed to
increase durability.
Every spring is solid
scragged and tested and a
full and final inspection is
carried out to ensure
Terrain Tamer standards are
met.
Finally, each coil is
anodised to prevent rusting,
before being powder coated for
quality presentation and the most durable
finish.
Both Terrain Tamer shock absorbers and
coil springs are available for purchase now.
For more information or to find your nearest
stockist, visit www.terraintamer.com or call
1300 888 444.
Roadsafe Automotive, which claims to be the distributor of Australia’s largest range of steering and suspension, has added
more than 30 steering rack end numbers to its ever expanding range over the past few months.
specific application we can endeavour to
match the sizes of the original part to our
rack end size listing, or offer the ‘blank’
ends if they look like suiting the
requirement,” Ms Allatt said.
Refer to the downloadable catalogue for
the most up to date rack end listings at
www.roadsafe.com.au/products.html#catal
ogue
Roadsafe also stocks and sells a full
range of rack boots to complement the
range of rack ends.
Ask your Territory Manager about the
Roadsafe rack end and boot range
during their next visit.
For more information contact
Roadsafe on 1300 651 551,
email sales@roadsafe.com.au or
visit www.roadsafe.com.au
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
The G Scan calibrates steering angle sensors with ease
Working on the steering and suspension systems on vehicles in this day and age
requires more equipment and technology than it has in the past.
With the number of sensors around a
vehicle, many require calibration, resetting,
adapting or programming to be operating
correctly after servicing is performed.
Electronic Stability Program (ESP),
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) or
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), is a
computerised technology that improves the
safety of a vehicle’s stability by detecting
and reducing any loss of traction by
applying the brakes and reducing engine
power to assist with steering to minimise
the loss of control of a vehicle.
According to Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety and the U.S. National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, onethird
of fatal accidents could have been
prevented by this technology.
The servicing and maintenance of such
an advanced system, requires advanced
equipment.
The G Scan is capable of diagnosing,
providing the critical live data from this
system on a wide variety of vehicles, and
perform calibrations when required, all in
quick time.
One of the most important sensors for
the ESP/DSC/ESC system is the steering
wheel angle sensor which determines the
driver’s intended rotation.
It is critical to this system’s accurate
operation to be functioning with
a correctly calibrated or
centered steering angle sensor.
There are a number of reasons
that can cause this sensor to
require calibration including a
vehicle being in an accident,
control unit replacement, sensor
replacement, steering column,
gear or shaft replacement, after
wheel alignment adjustments, or if
the SAS warning light is lit.
Using a G Scan diagnostic scan tool, it
is very easy to check to see if the steering
angle sensor is calibrated correctly.
The following example uses a 2009
model Holden VE Commodore which has
had the SAS warning light appear on the
dashboard after minor accident repairs and
a front end re-alignment.
A typical steering angle sensor
calibration procedure using the G scan is
as follows:
1. Stop the vehicle with steering wheel in
the straight ahead position.
2. Set the transmission in the park
position.
3. Connect the G Scan to the data link
connector (DLC).
4. Turn the ignition switch on, with the
engine off.
5. First clear any DTCs that are present in
the system.
6. Next go to Data Analysis to view the
sensors data reading in degrees.
7. Select Calibrate Steering Angle sensor
in the special functions menu.
8. Follow the simple scan tool directions
to complete the learn procedure.
9. Return to Data Analysis to view the
sensor’s data reading in degrees
(should now be 0)
10.Clear any DTCs that may be set.
For more information on the G Scan
and many more of these advanced
functions it is capable of, contact
Mount Auto Equip on 02 9905 8055 or
visit www.autoequipment.com.au
Nolathane’s grease retention system
Nolathane bushings in the majority of cases are designed to pivot on the centre sleeve and this requires the use of
its high-grade moly based grease as a lubricant to manage friction.
Keeping this lubricant in place and free
from foreign contaminants is the key to
keeping the bushing in tip top service
condition.
Many of you in the trade would
have witnessed the changing
features of Nolathane bushings
over the past few years especially
the ‘internal pocket knurling’
design which simply is a system
boasting hundreds to thousands of
small pocket reservoirs to house
and efficiently distribute the
grease.
The internal pocket knurling is
part of the new grease retention
system featured on most
Nolathane bushings which have
also adopted a grease retention
ring or more appropriately termed
a retention seal at each end of the internal
bore.
These seals are primarily designed to
prevent loss of grease from the bushing
and contaminants from entering the
bushing.
These grease retention designs are
incorporated into all new Nolathane
bushing kits designed to pivot while being
re-engineered into long standing popular
items also. Nolathane has taken this
opportunity to stress that lubricating
Nolathane in the correct way using the
correct grease is key to the longevity of the
service life and to the limited lifetime
warranty now offered by the company.
If you want more information on lubricating
Nolathane check out the technical video at
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=zUvOY9n
Y9zc or for general information visit the
website www.nolathane.com.au or call
1300 882 355.
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Bilstein Clubsport high-end coilover suspension kit
Bilstein Clubsport, the high-end coilover suspension kit for racing and road use, is approved by Walter Röhrl
The new Bilstein Clubsport is
a first-class suspension designed
for use both on race tracks and
normal roads.
The pull and push settings
can be adjusted separately by
means of high-quality aluminium
motorsport hand wheels
distinctly, quickly, precisely and
with no need for any tools.
An integrated two-way system
without an additional oil
reservoir saves up to four
kilograms in weight.
The Bilstein Clubsport is an
excellent entry level motor racing
kit, making it an ideal
suspension for sports drivers who
take part in track days and
driving schools on the major
international race tracks but who
are also keen to use their vehicle
on normal roads.
The new coilover suspension
kit is available for the VW Golf 6,
BMW M3 (E46), BMW M3 (E36) and the
Porsche 911 GT2/GT3 (997).
The Bilstein Clubsport incorporates highgrade,
OEM and racing quality components.
It is simple to install and the lack of reservoir
means that, once fitted, it can easily be
adjusted by hand, with no need for any tools.
The separately adjustable push and pull
hand wheels permit precise, rapid and
individual adjustments to be made over ten
levels, ensuring optimum road holding for
each model.
The entire set of 10x10 characteristic
curve settings is well defined, with clearly
The outstanding performance of this new Clubsport suspension unit stems from the intensive trials with world champion
Walter Röhrl carried out on the Nordschleife and from joint adjustment drives performed at the company-owned accredited
Test Centre in Papenburg.
perceptible and very precise transitions
between the curves.
A further advantage is that the ratcheting
of the damping force adjustment can be
distinctly felt.
Another benefit is that, thanks to its TÜV
approval, the suspension is also certified for
use on roads.
As an optional extra, Bilstein also offers
the suspension as a complete kit including
very lightweight aluminium support bearings.
If required, the suspension unit can be
adapted by Bilstein Motorsport to make it
suitable for use in racing vehicles.
The Bilstein Clubsport is ideal for sports
drivers who want to take their car to its limits
on the racing track but who are also keen to
drive on normal roads.
The new Bilstein Clubsport suspension kit
represents a top-quality Bilstein solution –
especially for drivers taking part in the GLC,
RCN, VLN and Slalom or Drift Challenges.
The outstanding performance of this new
Clubsport suspension unit stems from the
intensive trials with world champion Walter
Röhrl carried out on the Nordschleife and
from joint adjustment drives performed at the
company-owned accredited test centre in
Papenburg.
Bilstein is a name synonymous with top
quality suspension technology, as witnessed
by the numerous successes posted in the
company’s 50-year involvement in motor
racing, experience which the company feeds
back into the development of its products.
Ever since its invention, Bilstein’s
monotube design has been the motorsport
technology of choice.
For more information visit www.bilstein.com
Pedders new heavy duty front shock upper mount bush kits
Pedders has released two new heavy duty front shock upper mount
bush kits to suit selected 4WD models from the Toyota range.
Pedders part numbers 194002 and
194003 have been designed as a
replacement heavy duty shock mount bush
kit to suit the Pedders brand gas
SportsRyder and most aftermarket shocks
already available on the market today for
these vehicles.
Designed as a direct replacement for
existing upper shock mounting bushes,
Pedders heavy duty rubber upper shock
mounts offer outstanding suspension noise,
vibration and harshness suppression.
The installation of Pedders heavy duty
rubber upper shock absorber mounts is
highly recommend when installing new
shock absorbers to these vehicles to reduce
the chance of damage to the mounts from
the top shock pin rubbing through the steel
mounting plate.
For more information contact your local
Pedders Suspension specialist or visit
www.pedders.com.au
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
SuperPro’s new roll control hollow sway bars are 30
percent lighter
Progressive, hollow sway bars are now available to match the latest progressive suspension technology.
SuperPro has released the newest addition
to the roll control range progressive,
adjustable, hollow sway bars to suit the
popular Commodore VE.
The unique tubular, design is a first for this
vehicle delivering heavy duty performance
while being 30 percent lighter than many
alternatives.
Using a race spec chromoloy material
means SuperPro can deliver a light yet strong
alternative to solid sway bars with progressive
roll control.
These fully adjustable anti-roll bars
increase their rate progressively with wheel
deflection while lowering suspension
unsprung weight.
The result is more responsive suspension
with sharper steering, more grip, less body roll
and better handling overall.
The first release features tubular front and
rear adjustable options for the Commodore VE.
These bars allow for precise tuning of roll
control and suspension balance using a
selection of adjustment points.
Other suppliers like TEIN have used the
progressive properties of the roll control bars
to create tuned packages matched with coil
over springs and shock absorbers.
“The SuperPro Roll Control sway bars are
an ideal choice for our TEIN dampers, they’re
based on leading edge suspension technology
and are a perfect match for our VE
customers,” Scott Bennett from TEIN
Australia said.
The new progressive sway bars further
expand the roll control range and offer the
same core benefits of better handling and
sharper steering.
They’re joined by the Supaloy control arms,
roll centre adjusters and Duroball bushings.
You can read more about progressive
Roll Control sway bars at
www.superpro.com.au/hollow-sway-bars
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Hard working farmers, towing vehicles and grey
nomads boost demand for All Air Suspension
One of NSW and the ACT’s leading distributors of supplementary air suspensions for work and recreational vehicles,
All Air Suspension, is expanding in response to growing demand for its products.
The company, based at Meadowbank in
Sydney, has more than doubled its
warehouse and distribution space to offer
broader range and enhanced delivery to its
network of distributors for products such
as Ride-Rite suspension kits for leaf sprung
vehicles and Coil-Rite suspension kits for
coil sprung vehicles.
The kits, manufactured by Airbag Man
using Firestone air springs, which are
reputedly the world’s number one air
springs, are designed to improve the ride,
safety and durability of work vehicles
carrying heavy and uneven loads and
towing trailers and also to improve the
performance of recreational vehicles,
including mobile homes and vehicles
towing caravans and boats.
“We are getting a lot of demand from
groups as diverse as farmers and tradies
who are carrying heavy tools and tanks,
right through to government and private
fleet owners wanting to improve safety,” All
Air Suspension’s General Manager, James
Maslin, said
“On the other side of the ledger, there
are large numbers of campers, fishermen
and grey nomads who are seeking to
improve their vehicles towing ability and
safety with air suspension products.”
All Air Suspension’s new Meadowbank
office and warehouse carries an expanded
Roadsafe 4WD Landcruiser rods range upgrade
Roadsafe Automotive steering and suspension specialists has expanded its range of 4WD items to include complete
upgraded relay and track rods to suit the 75, 76, 78, 79, 80 and 105 series Landcruisers.
“We have a close
association with a
variety of mine
corporation suppliers who
wanted us to develop
Landcrusier rods complete with
ends, as all that was available
genuine was ‘rod only’,” Roadsafe
Product Marketing Manager, Tania
Allatt, said.
The original design relied upon a clamp
end over the tie rod end thread.
The new rods have been designed with
upgraded wall thickness, in addition to the
more effective lock nut for tie rod end
location and adjustment.
range of Ride-Rite
and Coil Rite kits
specifically designed
by Airbag Man for a
wide range of local
work and recreational
vehicles, including
utes, vans, 4WDs,
towing vehicles and
light trucks.
Full
air
conversions are also
available through the
All Air Suspension
network.
“Demand for
supplementary air suspension is growing
because many people are finding that
towing trailers or carrying uneven loads can
distort suspensions, affecting braking,
lighting and tyre performance,” Mr Maslin
said.
“And not only can steering and braking
be immediately compromised by poor load
distribution, but also the chassis and tyres
are placed under immense pressure by
loading distortions.
“It is a bit of a trap for drivers new to
towing, or carrying bigger loads, because a
vehicle suspension that is perfectly good
for normal lighter service can change
markedly when it is more heavily loaded.
Ms Allatt said Roadsafe was very strong
with research, development and testing.
“It is important to us to ensure that
all new items are researched properly
to determine whether a different or
upgraded design is required,
developed in the right manner
to suit the application and
tested suitably in a
variety of ways (both
in-house and real
life scenarios) to
ensure the
component
will last,” she
said.
“Heavily or unevenly loaded vehicles
can be subject to increased sway because
of lateral forces, while trailer-imposed ball
weight will cause headlights to shine up
into the trees or blind other drivers.
“A perfectly good familiar vehicle can
become a safety nightmare if its
suspension is not properly set up to tow or
cope with varying loads.”
All Air Suspension can also supply
contacts for national availability of the
product.
For more information or the name of local
fitting specialists, contact All Air
Suspensions on 02 9807 7641or visit
www.allair.com.au
The Roadsafe Landcruiser rods are
supplied electrocoated, for corrosion and
rust resistance, with a satin black finish to
follow through the tuff truck look.
The new rods are available now from
Roadsafe Automotive, and are
manufactured to be suitable as an
upgraded replacement for a standard or
lifted landcruiser.
For more information contact
Roadsafe on 1300 651 551,
email sales@roadsafe.com.au or
visit www.roadsafe.com.au for
additional information or the stockist
nearest you.
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
A smart solution to Falcon Territory rear diff problems
A common problem with popular Falcon and Territory models is the premature failure of the differential rear support
bushing and SuperPro has just released a solution.
Original Equipment fitted rubber
bushings fail resulting in substantial noise
and significant vibration (NVH) emanating
through the vehicle.
This can also cause damage if left
unattended.
SuperPro offers Falcon and Territory
owners a much more durable solution
designed and manufactured in Australia.
SuperPro has released the SPF3232AK
replacement differential rear support
bushing kit and SPF 3148AK for the
Differential Pinion Bracket Mount Kit
solution for BF Falcon onwards and 4/04
on 2WD and 4WD Territory models.
They are manufactured locally using the
same engineered and proven SuperPro
polyurethane formula that provides
unrivalled durability along with the
elimination of noise, vibration and
harshness thanks to the products’ voiding
qualities.
The SuperPro SPF3232AK and
SPF3148AK kits are the perfect solution
to a long standing and frustrating problem
for Falcon and Territory owners, while
enhancing the ride, comfort and handling
of these vehicles.
The unique ‘turbo’ design pattern of
this new SuperPro rear differential bushing
reduces diff movement and
minimises transmission of high
frequency vibration.
“By fitting this premium
quality suspension bush to
their customers’ cars, repairers
will solve a frustrating issue for
their customers and provide a
long term solution; that can
only increase customer
satisfaction,” SuperPro
Managing Director, Graham
Scudamore-Smith, said.
SuperPro is readily
available through a strong local dealer
network.
As with all SuperPro polyurethane
suspension products, a generous three-year
or 60,000 kilometre warranty applies.
SuperPro remains at the forefront of
quality suspension solutions for local and
overseas markets.
For more information about SuperPro
premium quality aftermarket suspension
bushes and components visit
www.superpro.com.au
Fitting rear KYB struts Subaru Forester Wagons
One of the most popular inquiries KYB receives is fitting rear KYB struts to Subaru Forester Wagons.
Here are some tips for you to avoid the confusion.
A key point when fitting KYB struts to
the rear of Subaru Forester Wagons is first
determine if your customer’s Forester has
rear self-levelling suspension.
Ask the customer to see if they know or
ring up a Subaru dealer and give them the
VIN number.
Locate the rear strut. Depending on
which model Forester, the strut will vary
in colour and design.
For instance it may be lime green,
black, have a small piggy back canister
on it (similar to motor cross rear shocks)
or it may just look like a standard strut.
Self-levelling struts do not have any
wires or hydraulic lines running to them.
The working mechanics of the selflevelling
suspension are all contained
within the strut itself.
The coil springs for self-levelling
suspension are softer in poundage than
non- self-levelling suspension coils.
The reason for this is when weight
is applied to the rear of a Forester with
self-levelling suspension, it will sag
slightly, however once driving the struts
will pump themselves up and level the
wagon to a predetermined height.
Non-self-levelling coil springs are
stronger in poundage and will not allow
the rear of the wagon to sag significantly
when a weight is applied to it.
Note: If you fit KYB rear struts
to a Forester with self-levelling
suspension and use the
OE self-levelling coil
springs the rear of the wagon will
sag about 30+ mm and not pump
itself up. To correct the problem a nonself-levelling
coil must be used in
conjunction with the KYB struts.
For more information, ring KYB customer
service at 1300 55 40 59 or visit
www.kyb.com.au
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Off the beaten Trac
Maxi Trac Nitro suspension kits by Repco
The Maxi Trac brand is synonymous with quality and Maxi
Trac Nitro suspension kits are the latest innovation in the 4WD
aftermarket.
All components are built tough to ensure durability and
increased performance in all conditions.
Exclusively at Repco, the Maxi Trac Nitro suspension kits
have been developed and tested in Australia and are ready for
action.
Maxi Trac Nitro suspension kits work hard so you don’t have
to, giving you improved approach and departure angles, with
an increased ground clearance for those tricky moments.
Covering many popular vehicle applications like Ford,
Mazda, Holden, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Toyota, each
suspension kit comes complete with all the required
suspension components including, where applicable, nitro gas
filled, twin tube shocks, fitted with long life brushes,
Australian made coil springs with an approximate vehicle height lift
of 50mm, heavy duty and extra heavy duty leaf springs (kit
specific), polyurethane shock absorber bushes and rubber
strut/load carrying bushes, powder coasted, high quality steel
spring torsion bars, with an increased spring rate of about 20
percent for improved load carrying, polyurethane suspension
bushes that are resistant to contaminants, weathering and
ultraviolet-light and zinc plated shackles, pins and U-bolts, which
are grease-able to keep brushes lubricated to reduce wear.
Since the launch of Maxi Trac Nitro suspension kits, Repco has
received nothing but fantastic feedback about the products’
quality, performance and the ride.
This substantiates the Maxi Trac philosophy of quality products
at value prices.
All Maxi Trac products come with a nationwide twoyear/60,000km
warranty.
Contact Repco on 133 227 for your nearest store.
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Ford Focus and Mazda anti-lift kit
Whiteline has added to its range of anti-lift kits with a new offering for the 2005+ Ford Focus models including
the RS MKII and Mazdaspeed3/Mazda MPS Generation 1 models.
Part number KCA428 is designed to
replace the front control arm rear mounted
bushing with a lightweight aluminium housing
matched with high performance/ low
compliance chassis control bushings.
KCA428 provides added static caster to
both front wheels by 0.5 degrees (RS
Focus) or one degree (non RS Focus),
while changing the nature of front anti-dive.
The low compliance bushing eliminates
the soft non-responsive feel felt from the OEM
fluid filled bushing and maintains more
positive caster control during hard braking
and cornering.
By changing the front control arm
geometry, the new high tensile alloy mounts,
coupled with the new low compliance
bushings, change front suspension attitude to
improve driver feel, feedback and confidence.
The additional positive caster coupled with
the new elastomer bushings supplied serve to
dramatically sharpen initial turn-in response,
forcing more consistent alignment angles
through the corner due to the reduced
bushing compliance.
‘Anti’ features in suspension systems are a
characteristic that can be used to influence
the stiffness of the front or rear suspension
under traction forces (under braking or
accelerating).
The individual terms are relatively
straightforward and self-explanatory with the
‘anti’ reducing or totally restricting the
characteristic (lifting or diving).
In the front suspension there may be
levels of anti-dive during braking and anti-lift
during accelerating (assuming traction to the
front wheels is present).
This unique kit utilises a two-piece
bushing for compliance and ease of
installation.
It is greased after installation to ease
fitment and promote longer life.
For more information call 1300 882 355 or
visit www.whiteline.com.au
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 77

STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Why fit a gas pressurised shock with twin chambers
When it comes to vehicle upgrades, did you know that shock absorbers are one of the most essential parts
Often ‘out of sight, out of mind’, shock
absorbers are generally viewed as less
‘exciting’ than some off road parts.
Yet plenty of 4x4s have suspension lifts
and roll on a set of muddies, but who knows
how well those vehicles really perform off
road without the right set of shocks
In addition to an extensive range of
automotive parts and overhaul kits, Drivetech
4x4 has now introduced the Enduro shock
absorber range.
Catering to most makes and models of
4x4s and some 4x2s, Category Manager Ben
Lavis said there are countless situations
where this great-looking range of new
products will be beneficial.
“The new Drivetech 4x4 Enduro shock
absorbers provide vehicle owners with an
inexpensive option to upgrade their shocks
from Original Equipment, while offering
improved ride quality, plus the durability
required for use on today’s 4WDs,” he said.
Designed in Australia, to suit Australian
conditions, Drivetech 4x4 Enduro shock
absorbers are ideal for drivers taking their
vehicles off road or onto corrugated surfaces,
or for mining or commercial vehicles that
experience tough conditions.
Drivetech 4x4 Enduro shock absorbers
feature OEM replacement functionality,
meaning they fit straight in, thus reducing
fitment time and fit standard height and
lifted vehicles up to 50mm.
They are gas pressurised which means
less oil aeration to offer a consistently great
ride no matter what the driving conditions,
are nitrogen charged and feature rubber
bushes for longevity and driving comfort and
are very cost effective, offering a high-quality
replacement component at an attractive
price.
They also have an increased bore size,
which means
a better ride
and reduced
fade, while the
twin
tube
construction guarantees
durability and come with the
advantage of a two-year
60,000km warranty.
Drivetech 4x4 Enduro shock
absorbers are gas pressurised, twin chamber
shocks. So what does this mean for
mechanics and drivers
Drivetech 4x4 Enduro shock absorbers are
valved differently, so they offer a ride that is
just as smooth as a normal fluid shock, while
still providing superior shock-damping
consistency.
Let’s say you’re driving your Toyota Hilux
at a good speed down a corrugated road. Your
suspension will be cycling at a tremendous
rate, thereby forcing the piston within the
shock absorber to move at a staggering rate
as well.
When this happens, the oil within a
regular shock absorber gets air bubbles
forced into it, causing the oil to become
frothy and foamy.
When this happens, the oil will flow
through the orifices of the piston at
unpredictable rates and decrease the
performance of any standard shock.
Gas pressurised shock absorbers work a
bit differently and are not nearly as
vulnerable to the oil aeration as a standard
shock absorber.
Enduro shock absorbers are built with
pressurised nitrogen inside the shock body.
This keeps the oil from aerating because
nitrogen does not mix with the shock oil, and
forces the oil molecules to stay packed
together much more closely, thereby all but
preventing the oil from developing any air
bubbles.
Twin tube shocks have two chambers, an
inner and an outer tube.
The inner tube is where most of the
work takes place.
Here, the piston travels up
and down through the main
supply of oil.
The outer chamber
holds an extra supply of oil and a pressurised
gas charge.
The gas provides the backstop against the
flow of oil.
Twin tube shocks deliver comfortable,
stable all-around dampening for most
applications including 4x4s.
Twin tubes are probably the most
commonly used shocks in the 4x4 automotive
market today.
Like other parts within the Drivetech 4x4
family, the new range of Enduro shock
absorbers offers the consistent, OEMstandard
performance the market has come
to expect from Drivetech 4x4 products.
If you’re looking for a shock absorber that
ticks all the right boxes on cost effectiveness,
ease of fit, durability and consistently great
ride across a diverse range of driving
conditions, Drivetech 4x4 Enduro shock
absorbers are the obvious choice for both
mechanics and vehicle owners alike.
Drivetech 4x4 Enduro shock absorbers
certainly live up to the Drivetech promise of
being ‘driven by quality’.
For more information on the exciting new
Drivetech 4x4 Enduro shock absorber range,
call your local Motospecs branch on
1800 463 646 or visit
www.drivetech4x4.com.au for a list of
authorised stockists.
New Airbag Man Cherokee suspension helper kit
Airbag Man has designed and manufactured a new air suspension helper kit to suit the rear suspension of the new
Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2).
The kits, incorporating Firestone airbags,
are designed to allow you to level your vehicle
when carrying or towing heavy loads.
The airbags are simple to use and are fully
adjustable, allowing the operator to maintain
the correct height at all times by adding or
removing air.
Individual inflation of the airbags caters for
offset loads the vehicle may carry, levelling the
vehicle left to right, as well as front to rear.
Improved steering and handling and more
even brake wear are only some of the many
associated benefits of fitting air suspension
to your vehicle.
For more information on this kit or any other
from the vast range of air suspension products,
contact Airbag Man on 1800 AIRBAG MAN,
(1800 247 224) email info@airbagman.com.au
or visit www.airbagman.com.au
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STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Wholesale
Suspension
For more than 18 years
Wholesale Suspension has
grown to be one of the most
trusted names in
automotive suspension in
Sydney.
Supplying high-quality parts at
competitive wholesale prices to
the trade and public alike, the
company is proud to support the
automotive industry with its
outstanding service.
The Penrith workshop and
Arndell Park Distribution
Warehouse ensure that a wide
range of Sydney is covered with
deliveries for parts supply and a
high quality workshop is not out of
range for many people.
All of the sales staff have
extensive experience in the
automotive industry and are well
equipped to handle any enquiry
you may have, be it trade supply
or workshop install and
fabrication.
All needs are covered from
standard replacement, high
performance, lowered, raised or
high load work vehicles.
Wholesale Suspension can
supply and fit all of the leading
brands of components from
manufacturers such as King
Springs, Koni Shock Absorbers,
Bilstein Shocks absorbers, Super
Pro Bushes, Tough Dog 4WD
Components, KYB Shocks, Eibach
Springs, Transteering Steering
Components, Boge Shock
absorbers, Ultima Shock
Absorbers and Whiteline
suspension components.
Custom fabrication is also no
problem for the team at Wholesale
Suspension, whether it is coil or
leaf springs, shock absorbers or
full-on race bred coilover setups.
Safe-riding council utilities set stability
benchmark for hard working vehicle fleets
A simple improvement to the suspensions of utility vehicles has paid handsome safety
dividends for a shire council service organisation that needs its one-tonners to carry
diverse tool and machinery loads over rough and varied surfaces off-road and on-road.
Eurobodalla Shire Council, on the NSW South
Coast, has introduced Firestone Ride-Rite
supplementary air suspension kits from All Air
Suspension for use where its Fords, Holdens and
Nissans have to cope with heavy and changing
loads encountered during maintenance,
construction and water services work.
The workshops of the council, which also
services the vehicles of complementary
organisations such as Eurobodalla Water, face the
same challenges as many trades, building, farm
and mine site vehicles: without the right suspension
setups for heavy and varying loads (such as trailers,
pump generators or a tank being progressively
emptied in spraying operations), such vehicles can
experience a host of problems that compromise
safety immediately - and can ultimately wreck the
vehicle involved.
“With the varying loads we carry, normal springs
can often be pretty close to their limit,” Eurobodalla
Water Operator Dave Shilliagnlaw said.
Mr Shilliagnlaw has covered 15,000km in his
4WD Holden Colorado fitted with the Ride-Rite air
helper suspension on the rear leaf springs to
improve safety and stability.
“We carry lots of different types of loads and tow
heavy trailers too, with big generators for pumps
and all sorts of different gear.
“The total loads carried from day to day are
always going up and down, so you need to be able
to adjust the suspension for the load.
“With the Ride-Rites, I can add air to keep the
nose of the vehicle level and the back up to the
correct ride height – and even adjust it from side to
side to account for uneven loads across the tray.
“You just have to pump in some more air or let
some out – like you would inflating or deflating a
tyre. It’s dead simple.”
Mr Shilliagnlaw said because the vehicle rides
flatter, it’s not pointing its nose up in the air and
shining its headlights into the faces of oncoming
vehicles or into the trees.
“You’re not dipping your lights all the time
because the nose is up and because it’s flatter, it
also steers better and is safer under brakes,” he
said.
“The ride is better too – it’s much smoother -
and there’s a big benefit to four-wheel drive
traction.
“If you’re in 4WD low gear, you really need to
have all the tyres planted firmly on the ground.
“It doesn’t work well if your nose is up in the air
because you’re carrying a big load or towing a trailer
– that can affect the traction.
“We haven’t had any service issues with the
airbags – there are no problems.
“If they deflate a little over time, we just pump
them up to the required level.
“It’s really simple and really effective.”
Complementary kits are also available for coil
spring vehicles.
The easy-to-install Ride-Rite, Coil-Rite and full
air conversion kits are manufactured in Australia
incorporating high quality Firestone airbags, ‘the
world’s number one air spring’.
Thousands of the suspensions have been
installed on scores of vehicle types over more than
a decade.
All Air Suspension can also supply contacts for
national availability of the product.
For the name local fitting specialists, contact
All Air Suspension on 02 9807 7641,
or visit www.allair.com.au
Call Wholesale Suspension on
02 4721 2112 (Penrith) or
02 9831 8825 (Arndell Park) so
one of the experienced staff can
discuss your needs with you and
organise an appropriate solution.
80 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Dobinsons replacement suspension kit for Ranger/BT-50
Following the release of the latest model of the Ford PX Ranger and the Mazda BT-50 in Australia, it quickly became
apparent that there was a need for increased ride height and heavy-duty suspension.
Dobinsons Spring & Suspension responded to this
demand, designing a full replacement suspension kit
specifically designed for the Ranger/BT-50.
Utilising heavy-duty coil and leaf springs, and heavyduty
twin tube nitrogen gas shock absorbers, Dobinsons has
developed and tested a full lift kit that will raise the vehicle
40mm, without causing premature front drive line wear.
With options available for light to heavy duty, Dobinsons
has ensured the kit will meet each customer’s requirements.
In line with the release of the suspension kit, Dobinsons
has also released a range of heavy duty winch-compatible
steel bullbars including a classic black and stainless loop
deluxe bar. Combine your Dobinsons bullbar with a
Dobinsons heavy duty suspension kit and a Dobinsons heavy
duty 4x4 winch and your Ranger/BT-50 will be ready to
tackle any track, any time.
Dobinsons has also developed a quality replacement
suspension kit for the Great Wall V240 ute and X240 Wagon
targeting the ‘affordable 4WD’ market by releasing a 45-50mm raised
full suspension kit for the V240 and a 30mm raised full suspension
kit for the X240.
Dobinsons also has a stainless loop deluxe bullbar available for the
Great Wall.
With many different options available for heights and load carrying
capacity, Dobinsons will find the suspension kit you desire to
compliment your Great Wall without compromising handling.
For more information please visit www.dobinsonsprings.com
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 81

STEERING &
SUSPENSION
Eibach Audi S5 project car
Inspired by motorsport – performance for the road
The Audi A5 Coupe is a seducer that
sweeps people off their feet.
The attractive two-door car also boasts
excellent technical features for both the
road and the track.
The new A5 DTM meets the challenges
of the renowned German Touring Masters.
As an ‘Audi Sport Official Supplier’,
Eibach equips the Audi racing cars with
the perfect suspension systems to prepare
them for the job.
The Coupe also has an excellent
motorsport feel on the road.
The Eibach suspension specialists want
to prove this with a new project car based
on the Audi S5.
They did not touch the standard
245kw/333hp, instead they decided to
generate more power by improving the car’s
handling with an optimum suspension setup
themed ‘Inspired by motorsport –
Performance for the road’.
Fitted with the Eibach B12 Pro-Kit, the
anti-roll kit performance sway bars and the
Pro-Spacer wheel spacer, there are three
different wheel/tyre combinations to
choose from, depending on the intended
use.
The Eibach B12 Pro-Kit performance
springs and shocks are composed of the
Pro-Kit Performance Springs and specially
adapted mono-tube gas pressure shock
absorbers from Bilstein.
A high degree of dynamics, precise
handling and large reserves in the limit
range guarantee motorsport worthy
excellence.
The slightly lowered centre of gravity
makes the car look even more like the Audi
A5 DTM version – particularly in
combination with a motorsport inspired
decal design.
The Eibach anti-roll kit and the Eibach
Pro-Kit form a perfect symbiosis in the
Eibach Audi S5.
The performance sway bars reduce body
roll, guaranteeing even more driving
pleasure, and the Eibach Audi S5 reacts to
every steering command with extreme
stability and precision.
The Eibach Pro-Spacer wheel spacer,
made of aluminium, rounds off the
package while the wheels are the final
interface between the asphalt and the
vehicle.
Eibach put the three different
wheel/tyre combinations together in cooperation
with partners Toyo and OZ.
These were optimised with respect to
dimensions and specifications for
representative purposes such as show and
shine, performance for everyday use and
high performance for the race track.
The award-winning Toyo Proxes T1
Sport, the Semislick Toyo R888 and the
HLT lightweight technology of OZ are the
chosen products.
With this set-up, the Eibach Audi S5
even feels at home on race tracks.
To an extent, the motto ‘Inspired by
motorsport – Performance for the road’ is
also true the other way around.
For more information on Eibach’s products
in Australia call 02 9999 3566, email
sales@eibach.com.au or visit
www.eibach.com.au
Urethane front differential mount
bush for the Ford Territory
Pedders’ urethane front differential mount bush to suit the Ford
Territory SX and SY models (AWD models only) has been
manufactured using high strength low duro polyurethane material to
maintain a smooth ride and good levels of cabin comfort.
It features a heavily voided bush design to allow the necessary bushing deflection
for maximum performance while ensuring minimal NVH transfer while the internal
bore grease retention system ensures adequate grease is available to manage friction
and bushing longevity.
The two-piece bushing is design for ease of installation compared to the OE
factory bushing replacement.
For more information contact your local Pedders Suspension specialist or visit
www.pedders.com.au
82 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

EXHAUST
DynoMax high performance exhaust hits the right note
Tenneco’s DynoMax Performance Exhaust brand is one of America’s leading brands of dyno-proven exhaust
technologies for muscle cars, diesel and petrol utes, sport utility vehicles and compact sports /European cars.
Every DynoMax Performance Exhaust
system is precision engineered to provide
maximum performance and acoustical
characteristics.
Complementing the Lukey Performance
Exhaust range, DynoMax Performance
Exhaust represents the next level in terms of
performance exhaust technology innovation.
True to this statement is the release of a
new high performance muffler that has
redefined the benchmarks for this category,
the DynoMax VT (Valve Technology) muffler.
The high flow and straight-through
stainless steel design of the DynoMax VY
muffler ensures maximum performance while
controlling the irritating drone that comes
with many aftermarket performance exhaust
products.
DynoMax VT mufflers feature an exclusive
and precisely calibrated internal valve that
redirects exhaust flow during cruising
conditions to provide drone-free performance.
The new improved version of the DynoMax
VT muffler also features quieter valve
technology.
Once the driver applies power, the valve
automatically adjusts for maximum exhaust
flow, delivering on-demand power and a
deep, throaty drone-free sound.
All DynoMax VT mufflers are
manufactured in stainless steel and
feature a straight through welded design.
The valve spring within the new DynoMax
VT Muffler is constructed from a corrosion
and heat resistant super alloy material that
is guaranteed to last the life of its vehicle
application.
The high temperature properties of this
material have exceeded extreme
environmental testing over 2,000,000
cycles.
All DynoMax VT Mufflers also undergo a
detailed cleaning process called ‘microfinish’
that provides a blemish-free, satin
finish to the exterior of the muffler.
All of these features are exclusive to
DynoMax Performance Exhaust from
Tenneco.
The well-known and trusted Lukey
Performance Exhaust range features two
standout high performance products: the
Lukey Performance Bolt On Sports Systems
and the Lukey Super Cat Converters.
Lukey 3” Super Systems provide
outstanding performance gains and the
famous Lukey Growl.
All Lukey Performance Super Systems are
made using mandrel bent pipes,
incorporating the latest in Lukey design.
Topped off with a black heatproof
performance coat, a Lukey Super System is
the easiest to fit, bolt-on upgrade that truly
delivers.
For superior performance and efficiency
while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the
Lukey Performance Super Cat represents the
ideal solution.
The large body design caters for up to
460 cubic inch engines when used as a
two way converter.
It also features 26 percent more
frontal area for increased performance.
The converters range in size from 2 ¼
inch to three inch internal diameter in the
oval shape.
Walker
Aside from being a mainstay of the
Australian and international Original
Equipment exhaust industry for decades, the
Walker brand offers more than 48 direct fit
catalytic converters and 10 universal fitment
catalytic converters to the Australian
aftermarket, covering the majority of vehicles
driven on Australian roads.
Walker’s universal range is available with
nipple tube sizes from 44.5mm (1 ¾ inch)
through to 76mm (three inches), making
them suitable for virtually any passenger
vehicle.
All Walker and Lukey catalytic converters
are manufactured from high quality stainless
steel and are backed by a one-year warranty.
To find out more about the range of
DynoMax, Lukey Performance Exhaust
and Walker aftermarket products, contact
Tenneco customer service on
1800 621 444.
84 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

FINANCE FEATURE
With more than 30 years manufacturing
experience, Torca clamps provide simple and
effective exhaust components, plus a range
of pipe joining and mounting applications.
The patented ‘Reaction Block’ design
makes for fast, accurate installation, saving
time and money.
Torca is committed to providing the best
product performance, with the best material,
for maximum efficiency at a value price.
Torca is designed made from the
highest quality stainless steel
in the United States.
You have most
likely heard of
Torca products by
name, including:
A c c u S e a l ,
DuraSeal, Coupler,
TorcTite, EasySeal,
AccuLock, and UniStrap.
Torca Exhaust Clamps are made from 100
percent 304 stainless steel. Our exhaust
clamps allow for easy and effective clamping
of various exhaust tubing utilising a butt joint
Torca engineered clamping systems
Torca is the brand when it comes to connecting heavy duty exhaust.
and nested joint
connection – it’s your
choice. There is no need to
size, slot or joint your
exhaust systems.
Don't be
fooled by
inferior knock offs! The
patented dual tongue and
groove inner sleeve provides quick,
easy and effective sealing and eliminates
longitudinal movement of exhaust members.
The reaction block provides a full 360-
degree equal distribution of stretching force,
prohibiting pipe distortion.
A patented dual tongue and groove inner
sleeve completes the seal around the joined
exhaust components.
Torca is dedicated to developing
innovative improvements to its products; in
order to get better results for you and your
vehicles. Torca provides the best product
performance, for maximum efficiency.
Remember, if it doesn’t have a reaction
block, it’s not a genuine Torca!
For further information about Torca
products, phone 1300 CLAMPS
(1300 252 677) or visit
www.hellonorma.com.au or
www.norampacific.com
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 87

EXHAUST
Walker for direct fit catalytic converters
Aside from being a mainstay of the Australian and international Original Equipment exhaust industry for decades, the Walker
brand offers more than 48 direct fit catalytic converters and 10 universal fitment catalytic converters to the Australian
aftermarket, covering the majority of vehicles driven on Australian roads.
Walker’s universal range is available with
nipple tube sizes from 44.5mm (1 ¾ inch)
through to 76mm (three inches), making them
suitable for virtually any passenger vehicle.
All Walker and Lukey catalytic converters
are manufactured from high quality stainless
steel and are backed by a one-year warranty.
To find out more about the range of DynoMax,
Lukey Performance Exhaust and Walker
aftermarket products, contact Tenneco
customer service on 1800 621 444.
Super Cat Converters
Super Cat Converters is a national complete exhaust and
undercar wholesaler selling standard replacement
exhausts, Tiger Headers, Performance Exhaust, catalytic
converters, MagnaFlow performance exhaust and a large
range of accessories.
Super Cat has warehouses in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne,
Adelaide and Perth.
Super Cat is the Australian distributor for MagnaFlow
performance exhaust which is manufactured in North America.
MagnaFlow produces a large range of universal fully polished
performance mufflers and direct fit cat back systems.
Super Cat also distributes a large range of MagnaFlow catalytic
converters.
The company stocks universal and direct fit (including manifold)
catalytic converters that are suitable for Euro 2, 3 and Euro 4.
If you are having trouble turning off a check engine light and
need the right catalytic converter to do the job you can be sure
Super Cat will have it in stock and be confident that it will function
correctly and turn that light off first time.
Tiger Headers is manufactured in Australia and sold through all
Super Cat warehouses.
Tiger Headers produce a large range of headers to suit most
vehicles in the Australian market.
You can be confident Tiger Headers will look great and fit
correctly but will also suit your budget.
For more information call 02 93196295 or visit www.magnaflow.com
or www.supercatconverters.com
88 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

FINANCE FEATURE
Where a financial roadmap will help improve
profit and cash flow
Before the end of financial year is a great time to understand how well your business has performed this
A financial roadmap will help improve
profit and cash flow by ensuring funds will
be available to spend on developing new
products and services, marketing, sales,
operations, customer service and human
resources.
If you want to grow a business you must
have funds available at the right time to
cover your needs.
The easiest way to develop a financial
roadmap is to have a budget and a cash flow
forecast. Here’s an explanation of the
difference between the two:
A budget is a financial plan of what you
are going to sell, what it is going to cost you
and what overheads you are likely to incur.
It also includes finance costs such as
interest. The budget sets out how much
profit or loss the business is planning to
make, usually on a monthly basis.
A cash flow forecast is a plan of when the
cash will flow into and out of the business.
It’s important to have both because a
budget may show that you’re going to make
profit, but customers take time to pay and
suppliers require payment, often before
customers have paid you.
It’s vital to plot this all out in black and
white, so that you can see where the ‘peaks
and troughs’ are likely to occur and plan
what you’re going to do to manage them.
A budget is often required by lenders and
only done for that purpose.
If you do a budget for yourself as a
business owner it provides a fantastic
financial roadmap and helps to clarify what
everyone needs to work towards for the
business to be profitable and successful.
People will often say, “I can’t do a budget
because I don’t know exactly how much I’m
going to sell”.
This is a reasonable enough statement
but shouldn’t put you off developing a
budget.
The best way to start a budget is to work
out your ‘break-even point’.
The break-even point helps you to work
out how much you need to sell to make
neither a profit nor a loss i.e. a zero result.
Obviously this isn’t what you’re in
business for, but it’s a great place to start to
give you targets to work towards and to avoid
losses.
To work out your break-even point the
best place to begin is with your overheads
i.e. the fixed expenses you incur whether you
past year and what are your targets for next year.
sell anything or not, such as rent, permanent
staff wages, equipment leases, etc.
You then need to know what your gross
margin is on sales.
Gross margin is the percentage you make
on sales after direct costs of your product or
service such as cost of the actual product or
labour and materials on jobs are deducted.
For example, if you know that products or jobs
cost you 40 percent (on average) of your sale
price, that means you’ve got a 60 percent
gross margin left to cover your overheads.
If your yearly overheads are $600,000
you will need to sell $1,000,000 to breakeven.
Once you know your break-even sales
figure you can use this as a basis for your
budget by entering the monthly figures into
a spread sheet and play around with
increasing and decreasing the monthly sales
to see what would be the impact of changes.
You could also work it backwards to
calculate what profit you desire and
therefore what you need to sell to achieve
the result.
Or if you can find ways to reduce your
direct costs how much impact that could
have on your profit.
The cash flow forecast is similar to the
budget, but looks at the situation from a cash
perspective rather than a profit one.
You begin with your opening bank balance
then plot in monthly what income you expect
to receive, based on when and how much
customers pay, against what you expect to
pay out based on fixed monthly overheads
and amounts owed to suppliers.
The cash flow also includes items such as
tax, repayment of loans and dividends which
aren’t included in the budget.
By doing this forecast you can see what
will be your closing bank balance for each
month and where you might experience peaks
and troughs.
Once you know the amount of the peaks
and troughs you can play around with a
spread sheet to work out how to retain a
positive bank balance or when you may need
funds to cover a shortfall.
By doing this at the beginning of the year,
you can approach lenders with a clear picture
of your requirements rather than rushing in
‘cap in hand’ begging for help to cover a
shortfall you didn’t expect.
Both of these financial tools will help you
to sleep easier at night and be able to plan for
the best or worst in your business.
CFO On-Call will run webinars on ‘How to develop a financial roadmap’.
To register visit www.cfooncall.com.au/events/seminars-and-events.html
All attendees will receive a free template budget and cash flow forecast spread sheet.
For more immediate financial help call 1300 362 436.
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 89

HR MATTERS
MOBILE PHONES IN THE
WORKPLACE
AAAA Employer Assist regularly receives enquires from AAAA members seeking assistance on how to stop or control
employees using mobile phones during working hours.
Impact to your business
Your customers demand to walk into your
business where they will receive you and/or
your employee’s full attention. However, what
kind of customer service do they experience
when your employee’s attention is focused on
their personal mobile phone – calling, texting
or using Facebook
In addition to productivity issues, the use
of mobile phones in the workplace can
expose you to a number of legal risks –
discrimination claims, sexual harassment
claims, bullying claims and work health and
safety incidences. Not to mention potential
misuse of your business’ confidential
information.
Human resources policies
As the employer, you have the right to
implement human resources (HR) policies
which establish standards of employment
and expectations within the workplace. Your
HR policies are the most valuable tool that
you have to control your workplace, manage
risk, and outline the company’s vision to your
benefit. HR policies allow companies to be
clear with employees on:
• Employee’s expectations from the
employer’s perspective
• Employer’s expectations of employee
• How policies and procedures operate and
work
• What is acceptable and unacceptable
behaviour and
• The consequences of unacceptable
behaviour.
How to control mobile phones in your
workplace
The best action that you can take to
manage the personal use of mobile phones
in your workplace is to implement a mobile
phone usage policy that clearly outlines the
employee’s obligations while at work or
carrying out duties. The policy must go
beyond preventing an employee from using a
mobile phone while operating a vehicle or
other machinery.
Personal mobile phone
Your policy needs to stipulate exactly what
you mean by ‘acceptable’ and ‘unacceptable’
use of a mobile phone. What you implement
is your preference, however as the vehicle
industry is driven by the ability to provide
excellent customer service, AAAA Employer
Assist recommends that all personal mobile
phones should not be on any person during
working hours and must be turned off. You
should clearly state that no personal mobile
phone can be used during working hours.
Obviously a workplace may need to be
WE CAN ASSIST YOU!
flexible in emergency situations or when
parents require contact with their children
after school – this is best managed via a prearrangement
with individual employees and
not as a blanket policy.
You may need to clarify that mobile phone
usage means calls, texting, internet surfing
or any other mobile phone functions.
Business mobile phone
A mobile phone usage policy should also
include business mobile phones usage as it is
just as important as personal mobile phone
usage standards. The reason for this is if an
employee uses the business mobile phone to
send discriminating or harassing messages,
as the employer you may be considered
vicariously liability for your employee’s
actions.
You should also include terms within the
policy outlining whether or not private use of
a business mobile phone is acceptable.
AAAA Employer Assist is a hotline service provided to all AAAA members to assist you to
understand your rights and obligations as an employer.
AAAA Employer Assist engages experienced human resources and industrial relations experts
who, at a discounted hourly rate for AAAA members, can draft your human resources policies to
meet your needs. Just call us for an obligation free discussion around your current arrangements.
For further assistance or enquiries, contact the AAAA Employer Assist team on 1300 735 306.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Gwen McIlroy and the AAAA Employer Assist team
90 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

PRTC
HDT BUILDS EXCITEMENT ONLINE
HDT Special Vehicles is ‘building excitement’ in the form of a brand new
website and online store.
You will be able to experience excitement
24/7 and enjoy door to door delivery of
genuine, quality HDT Products from
merchandise through to genuine decals,
dash badges and gear knobs.
There are more than 700 products in
store and HDT is constantly adding to the
product range.
Also available and gaining huge
popularity is the HDT Improved range of
products. HDT Improved is a range of
custom body kits, wheels and decals that are
available to suit the current VE Holden
range.
Bearing the HDT logo and made to the
same exacting standards as HDT’s custom
spec cars, these products allowing anyone
driving an SS VE or even an Omega to
improve their drive with some great looking
HDT products.
“The call for our HDT Products is getting
stronger all the time and we felt it was the
right time to grow our business in this way
and make it as easy as possible to purchase
Genuine HDT Products,” General Manager,
Heather Allen, said.
“You can order your products and they
will be picked, packed and shipped direct to
your door, usually within three working
days.”
HDT also offers a range of custom built
products that you can have made especially
to suit your HDT.
The new customised Dash Plate range is
available for both new and original HDTs and
you can even have one made for your HDT
Improved car.
“These are the types of products are
customers are telling us they want to be able
to purchase from us,” Ms Allen said.
Along with Excitement Online, the whole
website has had a makeover and features a
comprehensive ‘showroom’ which features
all the range of custom built vehicles
available along with the option to download
an electronic brochure and choose from a
range of very cool wallpapers to adorn your
desktop.
And of course the website would not be
complete without the archives which feature
an extensive amount of information on all
models of HDTs built by the company over
its 32 year history.
Brand new to the website is the ‘Is it the
Real Deal’ feature.
If you own a HDT or, more importantly,
are looking to purchase one, you can now
access the database of original build papers
and check the authenticity of a HDT build
car.
There will be a small administration fee
to use this service, which is fully rebated off
the cost of a HDT Authentication Kit which
provides the owner with a complete copy of
their ‘Build Papers’ from the archives.
“We believe we are the first motor car
company in Australia to offer this service,”
Ms Allen said.
“This can give potential purchasers piece
of mind that what they are purchasing is
genuine, and if we can’t authenticate it at
least the buyer is aware of what he is
buying.”
The website is at www.hdt.com.au
GARRETT GTX-R
TURBOS
Garrett’s ball bearing cartridge has proven its worth
in the highest level of motorsport where it has been
the bearing system of choice in the Cart Fedex
ChampCar Series, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Pikes Peak
International Hill Climb, World Rally Championship
and most recently drag racing.
These premier racing customers demand no less than
the best in durability, reliability, and power on demand.
One key contributor to this performance lies in the ball
bearing cartridge where it is, by design, surrounded by a
thin film of oil.
The oil film damps out destructive vibrations that would
otherwise compromise turbo durability.
Drag racing demands more from your vehicle than
almost any other motorsport and you demand just as much
from your turbo.
A Garrett turbocharger is put through harsh testing to
give you the dependability you can count on each and every
pass.
The company’s engineers work directly with race
sanctioning bodies to insure that there is a Garrett
turbocharger to meet your class rulebook and even provide
low-volume wheel combinations that allow for extreme
thermal expansion to keep you on track.
The next step in the evolution of the turbocharger is
here.
Garrett GTX-R Turbos feature all new compressor wheels
with next generation aerodynamics and improved efficiency
to deliver wicked performance and are now available in midframe
sizes.
Garrett GTX-R turbos feature 10 percent-plus gain in
flow over and a 10 percent-plus higher pressure ratio
compared to traditional GT compressor wheel designs,
forged, fully machined wheels, the latest compressor wheel
aerodynamic design for improved efficiency, are outline
interchangeable with Garrett GT Series turbos and have the
Garrett OE quality for unbeatable reliability.
All Garrett GT and GTX product can be engine matched,
technically supported, repaired and sold by GCG
Turbochargers Australia.
For more information call 1300 TURBOS (1300 887 267)
or visit www.gcg.com.au
2012 SEMA SHOW REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Attendee registration for the 2012 SEMA Show is now open at www.SEMAshow.com/register
The annual trade-only event takes place
from Tuesday, October 30 to Friday, November
2, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Preregistering online is the easiest and
most economical way for buyers to obtain
credentials to the SEMA Show,” SEMA VP of
Events and Communications, Peter
MacGillivray, said.
Buyers registering at www.SEMAshow.com/r
egister before the early registration deadline
pay just $25. They will also be sent their
badges in the mail in advance of the event,
allowing them to hit the show floor immediately
when the SEMA Show opens on October 30.
The SEMA Show is the leading automotive
trade gathering in the world, where
manufacturers and buyers of automotive
specialty parts and equipment gather to do
business each year.
The event attracts more than 100,000
industry professionals from more than 100
countries each year.
For more details, visit www.SEMAshow.com
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 91

4WD
ACS RELEASES NEW
XTREME OUTBACK
PACKAGING
Australian Clutch Services has
released new packaging for its 4x4
and SUV product which is sold under
the high-profile Xtreme Outback Brand.
The new Xtreme Outback box has
revised artwork and follows the Clutchpro
and Xtreme packaging in regards to
additional information that is integrated
into parts of the internal packaging.
High visual impact is one of the key
features of the new packaging which has
the same vibrancy as that which is shared
through the entire range of clutch products
owned by ACS.
The new packaging platform is due to
roll out in coming weeks and is
complemented by a new Xtreme Outback
sales brochure and associated marketing
material.
The refreshed look of the Xtreme
Outback Brand is part of a strategic update
to segments of the Australian Clutch
Services range.
“A fresh and vibrant brand is just as
important to our resellers as it is to us,”
Managing Director Brenton Jordan said.
“Part of our philosophy at ACS is to
always be innovating and leading the way, in
every respect.
“A tired brand displays a lack of ability
to move with the times, adapt and innovate.
“Your packaging delivers your first
impression to customers in most cases, it
is extraordinarily important.”
Visit www.australianclutch.com.au for
more information.
REVERSING CAMERA AND MONITOR SYSTEMS
Offering exceptional reversing visibility in any circumstance, ARB’s range of reversing
cameras and monitor systems add an extra element of safety to your daily driving needs.
With ARB reversing camera and monitor
system kits, trailer camera kits, auxiliary
cameras and auxiliary infrared cameras
available, the driver’s vision can be extended to
the rear, side, roof or front of the vehicle,
providing all round safety and confidence in
most driving situations.
On top of this, extra vision can be extended
to trailers, campers, caravans or even inside the
canopy or trailer of a vehicle, assisting the
driver in reversing situations or simply keeping
an eye on the contents of a trailer.
Designed to improve visibility at the rear of
a vehicle, the ARB Reversing Camera and
Monitor System Kit is perfect for reversing in
tight places, residential areas or connecting a
trailer, camper or caravan to a vehicle.
The kit is ideal for vans, 2WD or 4WD
vehicles and incorporates a replacement
rearview mirror with an inbuilt 3.5” OLED
monitor that automatically engages when the
reverse gear is selected.
With an inbuilt microphone and adjustable
volume, the driver is able to hear any external
noise through the speaker in the rearview
mirror.
The waterproof and dustproof wide angle
camera with 160° wide angle vision can be
mounted to the licence plate using existing
licence plate screws for simple installation.
The kit comes with a five metre extension
cable and two camera mounting brackets and
inputs allowing for the fitment of a second
auxiliary camera.
Also available from ARB is the Trailer
Camera Kit.
Perfect for tourers, this kit is designed as a
bolt-on accessory for the Reversing Camera and
Monitor System and provides users with rear
vision from their camper, caravan or trailer.
Carrying many of the same features as the
Reversing Camera and Monitor System kit, the
trailer kit instead includes an infrared camera
with a powder coated aluminium housing and
adjustable visor to reduce glare.
Featuring a 15-metre cable extension to
cater for a vast array of camper trailers or
caravans, this add on kit also comes with heavy
duty sockets and plugs including a flexible cord
along with vehicle and trailer mounting brackets
for the heavy duty cables.
The trailer kit uses an auto switching
module to integrate with the existing ARB
reverse camera system (sold separately).
With two camera inputs available in the ARB
Reversing Camera and Monitor System, an
auxiliary camera is perfect for obtaining an
alternate view for front, rear, side, roof, trailer or
internal vehicle placement.
The high-quality camera utilises a Sony
imager with inbuilt microphone and infrared
sensors.
The camera has a 135° wide angle lens with
an adjustable camera bracket of up to 120° and
comes with a five metre extension cable and
two camera mount brackets for versatile
placement.
Coming in an infrared variant, the ARB
Auxiliary Infrared Camera provides up to 10
metres of vision in dark conditions and driving
at night.
With an adjustable sun visor to reduce sun
glare, the infrared camera comes in a powder
coated aluminium housing and is designed to
withstand a vigorous 96-hour salt spray test.
Both auxiliary cameras are suitable for use
in most conditions and are operational in a
temperature range of -10°C to 80°C.
Sold exclusively by ARB, the reversing
camera and monitor system range is available
now from ARB stores and stockists across the
country.
For more information, contact your nearest
stockist or visit www.arb.com.au
92 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au

4WD
Off-road driving demands for strong, reliable recovery points to cope with a huge variety of recovery situations.
The purpose of a recovery tow
point is to provide a safe and secure
point from which to recover a stuck
vehicle.
Roadsafe has expanded its range
of vehicle specific 4WD tow points.
New additions include tow points
to suit the Prado 150 series and
Patrol GU4 (available July 2012).
There is much confusion amongst
4WDers regarding tow points.
Unfortunately, this has been
exacerbated because many modern
vehicles are fitted with generic tow points.
Generic tow points are not vehicle specific, and while rated to
10,000lbs (4.5t) or similar, mounting them is often done by the vehicle
owner, who is not in a position to ascertain whether the mounting
location can handle the loads exerted during a recovery.
Depending upon how and where these points are mounted, generic
style tow points can be unsuitable for recovery situations, and have
been seen to fail during recovery operations.
Roadsafe tow points undergo considerable research and
development, involving the actual vehicle chassis.
The new Roadsafe GU4 point was designed based on the actual
vehicle, with CAD drawings and 3D printing for test fitting prototypes.
This allows for any bugs to be ironed out prior to any actual
manufactured prototype for vehicle fitment, destruction testing, and
finally on-vehicle testing in ‘real life’ recovery situations.
Roadsafe 4WD recommends fitting Roadsafe tow points as a
matched pair, bolted to the chassis, and used in conjunction with each
other in all recovery situations with use of an equalising bridle.
An equalising bridle is designed to evenly distribute the load on the
vehicle during the recovery operation when connected to the two
recovery tow points.
The Roadsafe 4WD equalising bridles are designed in 2.5m x
8000kg minimum breaking strength, with a movable protective sleeve
in the middle and black reinforced eyelet protectors.
Most Roadsafe tow points have been designed for use with a 4.7t
bow shackle.
When bolted to the chassis, the use of Roadsafe tow points, in
conjunction with an equalising bridle attached with an adequately rated
bow shackle, creates a safer vehicle attachment system for recovery
situations.
In order to encourage recommended use, Roadsafe has kits
available including the tow points, bridle and shackles to suit.
Setting up this system is straight forward.
Secure one eye of the equalising bridle to one of the installed
Roadsafe tow hooks and pass the other end through the eye on the end
of the snatch strap intended for use during the recovery operation.
Then, hook the second end of the equalising bridle to the other
installed Roadsafe tow hook.
Line the equalising bridle up with the direction of pull intended
and locate the protective sleeve on the equalising bridle in the snatch
strap eye.
All Roadsafe tow points have been destruction tested during
development to ensure they have the ability to cope with a variety of
potential recovery situations.
Recovery of stuck vehicles can be dangerous.
Always inspect the Tow Points and shackles before each use.
ROADSAFE TOW POINTS
Do not use if there are visible
signs of damage or wear including
cracking or elongation.
Do not exceed the working load
limit of the shackle or tow points.
Always stay a safe distance away
from the recovery area – at least 1.5
times the length of the recovery
strap.
Incorrect use of recovery
equipment can result in serious
injury or death.
Always ensure that adequate
preparation for the recovery, to minimise the strain on either vehicle,
has been undertaken such as digging.
If you do not understand how to use this equipment safely or are
uncomfortable with your abilities in the use of recovery equipment,
complete a course that specialises in four wheel driving and 4WD
vehicle recovery.
Supplied with a 12-month warranty, Roadsafe tow points are
available now.
For more information contact Roadsafe on 1300 651 551, email
sales@roadsafe.com.au or visit www.roadsafe.com.au
AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 93

RETAIL
KMART TYRE & AUTO
SERVICE UPGRADES
WEBSITE
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service (KTAS), a division of
Kmart Australia, recently refreshed and upgraded
its website in its constant quest to provide its
customers with the best possible service.
Supporting its recent $25 million rebranding
investment, the new look website at
www.ktas.com.au will provide customers with a
number of new and improved features including
simplified site navigation, ensuring customers
can locate the information they need with fewer
clicks.
There is increased general and technical
information to better equip customers with
automotive knowledge before heading in-store
and vehicle visuals with animated graphics
throughout enabling customers to more easily
decipher the technical aspects of automotive
repair.
A tyre selector, with weekly specials allowing
customers to take advantage of offers and make
valuable savings, is on the website and a dynamic
job search tool allows new recruits access to up
to the minute job offers (coming soon).
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service’s Marketing
Manager for Digital, John Lane, who led the
project, said the improved website is another
investment Kmart Tyre & Auto Service made to
ensure the company delivers high quality
customer service.
“We recognise that the website is often the
first touch point with a customer, so we really
wanted it to reflect Kmart Tyre & Auto Service’s
customer service values and have customers
experience them right from the start of their
journey with us,” he said.
Tony Skallias, Kmart Tyre & Auto Service’s
General Manager of Marketing, said the primary
focus of the company’s customer value
proposition was clear communication and
transparency.
“We believe the new website delivers on these
critical points, as well as showcasing our
technical competencies and range of services,”
Mr Skallias said.
KMART TYRE & AUTO SERVICE HELPS ROAD
SAFETY EDUCATION CUT ROAD DEATHS
New partnership marks a commitment toward creating responsible young automotive apprentices by
equipping them with the knowledge to stay safe on Aussie roads
Kmart Tyre & Auto Service (KTAS) has
partnered with Road Safety Education (RSE),
formerly RYDA, to combat the overwhelming
number of 17-25 year olds who are losing their
lives in automobile accidents each year – a total
of 279 died in 2011 alone.
Despite representing only 15 percent of all
road users, Australians between the age of 17-
25 account for one quarter of all automotive
fatalities.
KTAS is dedicated to making a positive
contribution to the communities in which it
operates and this partnership enables it to make
a difference.
The Road Safety Education Schools Program
will teach young Australians the necessary skills
they need to stay safe behind the wheel that
they can take wherever they go.
KTAS has been integral in supporting the
ongoing development of the program, which
currently educates more than 40,000 new
drivers, and has instructed nearly 250,000
drivers since starting in Sydney’s northern
suburbs in 2001.
KTAS’ role as the Founding Donor of the
Road Safety Education Foundation reflects its
long term support of the program and the cause.
KTAS will extend the reach of the RSE
program internally to all team members under
18 years of age, including 90 KTAS apprentices
around Australia to undertake the training.
KTAS is dedicated to providing their young
apprentices with first class skills and learning
tools which will set them up for life.
It also marks KTAS’ ongoing commitment to
the RSE program aimed toward preventing the
growing amount of fatalities on Australian
roads.
“Kmart Tyre & Auto Service has been
involved in keeping cars safe on our roads for
over 40 years and our partnership with RSE
which enables us to provide road safety
education to new drivers will see this taken to
the next level,” KTAS Managing Director, John
Sink, said.
“In partnering with RSE, KTAS is able to
greatly facilitate the process of distributing
materials that educate drivers about responsible
driving.
“KTAS is excited to use its large customer
base and significant presence in the community
to increase future awareness and participation
in the RSE Program and to better educate new
drivers about the dangers of being on the road.
“The partnership is a mutually beneficial
way of ensuring young Australians are armed
with the adequate knowledge and training to
create safer Australian roads.”
ABS MORPHETT VALE EXPANDS WITH
CLUTCH SPECIALIST
Gavin Diener has joined ABS in Morphett Vale,
South Australia, to expand the clutch side of the
business.
He comes to the ABS group with more than
12 years of experience with a leading clutch
company where he was responsible for
performance and durability applications after
spending most of his career in the automotive
industry.
In the short time he has been with ABS Mr
Diener has already built on the clutch business
which he is now taking to the southern region of the greater Adelaide area.
ABS Morphett Vale sells Protex, ClutchPro and Extreme clutches as well as handling
machining, upgrades and special adaptions.
94 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 012 www.aaaa.com.au